Wikipedia

Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh

Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh, also known as Sapam Keba, (born 1 January 1959) is a politician from the Indian state of Manipur. He is the incumbent MLA representing Patsoi Assembly Constituency in the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly. He represented the Patsoi assembly constituency during 2007–2012 in the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly.[4]

Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh
Chairman, MEDCO
Incumbent
Assumed office
2022
Preceded by Yumnam Radheshyam Singh
MLA, Manipur Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
2022
Preceded byAkoijam Mirabai Devi
ConstituencyPatsoi
In office
2007–2012
Preceded byMoirangthem Nabadwip
Succeeded byAkoijam Mirabai Devi
ConstituencyPatsoi
Personal details
Born (1959-01-01) 1 January 1959 (age 65)
Imphal, Manipur, India
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
(2013-2017) [1]
(2021-present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2007-2012)
AITC (2012-2013) [2]
NEIDP (2017-2021)
SpouseNingolei Devi
ParentIbochouba Singh (father)
Residence(s)Sagolband Road, Tera Bazar, Imphal
EducationB.Sc.
Alma materDM College of Science, Manipur
OccupationSocial worker[3]

In 2007, he won his maiden election as an Independent candidate by defeating the former Deputy Chief Minister and also the former Speaker L. Chandramani Singh by a margin of 1644 votes.[5] He lost the 2012 election as an All India Trinamool Congress candidate. In 2017, he joined the North East India Development Party (NEIDP).[6] He lost the 2017 election by a slimmest of margin of only 114 votes against a sitting Indian National Congress Minister.[7] In the 2022 state Assembly election, as a BJP candidate he defeated the former INC Minister AK. Mirabai Devi.[8] On 15 June 2022, Sapam Keba was appointed the Chairman of MEDCO (Manipur Electronics Development Corporation Limited).[9]

Early life and education

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Sapam Keba was born in Imphal, Manipur. A Bachelor of Science graduate from DM college of Science, Manipur. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Demonstrator in the Department of Chemistry in Oriental College, Imphal.[10]

Political career

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In the early 2000s, Sapam Keba and his team founded a political organisation called "Progressive Committee Patsoi Kendra". The goal of this organisation was to help augment the overall development of Patsoi assembly constituency.[11]

2002

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In the 2002 assembly election, this very organisation backed the CPI candidate Moirangthem Nabadwip Singh and eventually Moirangthem Nabadwip Singh won the Patsoi seat.[12]

[13]
Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2002: Patsoi
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
CPI Moirangthem Nabadwip 8,622
FPM Leishangthem Chandramani Singh 7700
INC Akoijam Mirabai Devi 4333
DRPP Sapam Samugnou Singh 670
NCP Atom Tondon 423
JD(U) Shamulailatpam Kameshor 52
Majority
Turnout

2007

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Clarion call from the supporters of Sapam Keba of actual contesting the election grew louder and stronger in the run-up to the 2007 assembly election. After much thought and deliberations, Sapam Keba took the plunge and announced his candidature for the 2007 Assembly Election. He took an independent stand and stood as an Independent candidate. Amongst the candidates included the veteran politician, former Speaker and also the former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. L.Chandramani Singh and others. He won the election by a margin of 1644 votes and was termed as a "Giant Killer" by the local media.

[14]
Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2007: Patsoi
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh 8,936
MPP Leishangthem Chandramani Singh 7292
INC Akoijam Mirabai Devi 7196
CPI Moirangthem Nabadwip 2348
SP Atom Tondon Singh 136
LJP Sapam Samugnou Singh 122
RJD Sapam Ibohal Singh 103
Majority
Turnout

Upon becoming the MLA as an independent candidate, the political force of Sapam Keba was not the strongest as the Government led by O. Ibobi Singh of the INC was in a comfortable majority with its allies. Since in the Centre, there was also the Congress-led UPA Government, the levers of power and patronage were in the hands of Congress politicians whether elected or otherwise. Projects proposed by Sapam Keba were put in the back burner and there was little to no support whatsoever from the ruling dispensation. On top of all that, the state machineries were in a constant hostile mode with Sapam Keba.[15] Despite this, Sapam Keba performed admirably and the period of 2007-2012 saw a steady progress in the development of Patsoi Assembly Constituency.

2012

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The context of this 2012 election is based on the above facts among other factors. The other factors include, the strong wave of Congress in the state and Sapam Keba for this 2012 election was contesting against the Congress on AITC ticket. The number of votes Sapam Keba got in 2007 is almost the same as he got in 2012 implying that the people who voted for him in 2007 still trusted him in 2012 also. Another factor includes the anti-Sapam Keba votes combining and this posed a significant threat to Sapam Keba. The anti-Sapam Keba votes include the Communist votes as well as the votes from the Former Speaker L. Chandramani Singh who got more than 7000 votes in 2007 but was reduced to 2515 votes in the 2012 election. All these factors led to the defeat of Sapam Keba.[16]

[17]
Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2012:Patsoi
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC Akoijam Mirabai Devi 14,257
AITC Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh 8,710
MPP L. Chandramani Singh 2515
CPI Pheiroijam Irabot Singh 1482
SS Sapam Samungou Singh 113

After the defeat in the 2012 Election, Sapam Keba began looking for alternate political options since the AITC did not perform as well as people hoped for. In this period, BJP began their rise in the narrative of the country. In December, 2013 Sapam Keba joined BJP in the presence of Tapir Gao, Former MP from Arunachal Pradesh and in-charge of BJP Manipur and under the state BJP Presidentship of Th. Chaoba Singh, Former Union Minister.[18] The joining of Sapam Keba to the BJP was before Narendra Modi became the official Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP and at a time when not many in Manipur were enthusiastic about joining the BJP.

After joining the BJP, Sapam Keba was appointed as one of the executive members of BJP Manipur Pradesh and later on was inducted as one of the core-committee members.[19]

2017

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Despite working judiciously for the BJP and even upon repeated assurances from the State BJP leadership that the BJP ticket would be decided on the winnability factor, Sapam Keba's name was overlooked for the nomination. Sapam Keba joined the regional party NEIDP [20] and fought the 2017 state assembly election however lost the election by a slimmest of margin of only 114 votes against the incumbent Indian National Congress Minister Ak. Mirabai. The BJP candidate secured only 3,173 votes and lost his deposit.[21]

[22]
Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2017:Patsoi
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC Akoijam Mirabai Devi 13,405
NEIDP Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh 13,291
BJP S. Premananda Sharma 3,173
NPP Chungkham Thoiba (Bijoy) Singh 1,236
CPI(M) Thounaojam Sharat Singh 85

2022

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On 15 July 2021, Sapam Keba quit NEIDP.[23] On 24 October 2021 Sapam Keba rejoined BJP in presence of Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh and BJP State President A. Sharda Devi. The announcement of BJP candidate list for the 2022 state assembly election included Sapam Keba and he contested the election on the BJP ticket. In the tricornered fight of Patsoi AC between BJP, Congress and NPP, Sapam Keba of BJP emerged victorious. The BJP as a whole too performed exceptionally well in the state by winning the majority 32 seats out of 60 seats and forming the Government in the state.[24][25]

[26]
Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2022:Patsoi
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BJP Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh 12,186
INC Akoijam Mirabai Devi 11,499
NPP R.K. Rameshwar Singh 10,741
JD(U) Wakambam

Ibomcha Singh

125
NOTA 285

Positions held in political parties

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  • Core-committee member - BJP Manipur Pradesh
  • Interim President - NEIDP[27]
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  •  
    Meeting Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in Delhi
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    Courtesy call by BJP General Secretary Ajay Jamwal at the residence of Sapam Keba
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    Sapam Keba and Narendra Modi in Gujarat, 6 January 2014
  •  
    Sapam Keba with Narendra Modi in Imphal on stage on 8 February 2014
  •  
    Sapam Keba rejoins BJP on 24 October 2021

References

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  1. ^ Modi to visit state on 8 Feb
  2. ^ Filing of nomination ends; unofficial source pegs total nomination filed at 266
  3. ^ "9th Manipur Legislative Assembly Members: Who's Who". Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  4. ^ Members of the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly
  5. ^ "Two former Chief Ministers and Speaker eat humble pie in Manipur". oneindia.com. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Sapam Keba joins NEIDP". Imphal Free Press. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  7. ^ "Patsoi Assembly Constituency Election Result - Legislative Assembly Constituency".
  8. ^ "2022 Patsoi election result". 10 March 2022.
  9. ^ "9 BJP MLAs given Chairman post of Govt bodies".
  10. ^ "9th Manipur Legislative Assembly (WHO's WHO)". 14 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Patsoi MLA promises incentives for students : 13th jul09 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  12. ^ Rishang, Chandramani fall on day of surprises
  13. ^ "Compilation of polling station wise result-SA-2002 - CEO Manipur" (PDF).
  14. ^ "Compilation of polling station wise result-SA-2007 - CEO Manipur" (PDF).
  15. ^ MLA ired by Patsoi OC's 'high headedness', demands action
  16. ^ Mirabai eyes women empowerment
  17. ^ "Compilation of polling station wise result-SA-2012 - CEO Manipur" (PDF).
  18. ^ Press, Imphal Free (29 December 2013). "Tapir Gao to assess intending candidates – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Narendra Modi Concerns about Manipur Issues". e-pao.net. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  20. ^ "NEIDP names 10 candidates : 09th feb17 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  21. ^ "IndiaVotes AC Summary: Patsoi 2017". IndiaVotes. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Compilation of polling station wise resul-SA-2017 - CEO Manipur" (PDF).
  23. ^ "Keba resigns". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Manipur election 2022 result updates BJP wins 32 seats in Manipur". The Hindu. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  25. ^ "CM, Sharda go on poll trail with peace call for Manipur : 25th oct21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Compilation of polling station wise resul-SA-2022 - CEO Manipur" (PDF).
  27. ^ "SALAI chairman removed". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
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