The Congress party achieved significant victories in both the Inner and Outer Manipur constituencies in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and Alfred Kan-Ngam Arthur emerging as winners.Â
Angomcha Bimol Akoijam secured the Inner Manipur seat by obtaining 3,74,017 votes out of 7,89,912, defeating Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh of the BJP-NPP-NPF alliance. Akoijam, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, was favored by voters seeking an alternative to the ruling BJP. He was chosen by senior Congress leaders during a period of state unrest when no other party leaders were willing to contest.
In the Outer Manipur constituency, Alfred Kan-Ngam Arthur won with 3,84,954 votes out of 7,89,793, defeating Kachui Timothy Zimik of the NPF by a margin of over 60,000 votes. Arthur, a former legislator, became the third Tangkhul Naga to win a Lok Sabha election, following Rungsung Suisa's victory in 1957. His win coincided with his 51st birthday, which he celebrated on the day of vote counting.
Other candidates for the Inner Manipur seat included Maheshwar Thounaojam of the RPI (Athawale), independent candidate Moirangthem Totomsana, Rajkumar Somendra Singh, and Haorungbam Sarat. In Outer Manipur, the competition also featured independent candidates S Kho John and Alyson Abonmai.Â
These victories represent a significant shift in Manipur's political landscape, with the Congress party making substantial gains against the BJP-NPP-NPF alliance. The election results indicate a desire for change among voters and highlight the effectiveness of the Congress candidates amidst the state's political challenges.
