BJP fields former state president Sarda Devi for Manipur Rajya Sabha poll

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on June 8 nominated Adhikarimayum (A.) Sarda Devi as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election from Manipur, with the former state party chief filing her nomination papers at the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat.

 

Sarda Devi submitted her papers before the Returning Officer in the presence of Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh, BJP legislators and senior party leaders.

 

Her candidature marks a significant milestone for the party in the state, as she became the first woman to serve as BJP's Manipur unit president and is now set to contest for a seat in the Upper House of Parliament.

 

The Rajya Sabha election for Manipur is scheduled for June 18. According to the Election Commission's notification, June 8 was the last date for filing nominations, while scrutiny of papers will take place on June 9. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until June 11.

 

Polling, if required, will be held between 9 am and 4 pm on June 18, with vote counting scheduled to begin at 5 pm the same day.

 

Rajya Sabha elections will also be conducted on June 18 in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Rajasthan.

 

The BJP is widely expected to retain the Manipur seat, backed by its numerical strength and continued influence in the state assembly.