Guwahati: As Manipur goes to polls in March, all eyes will be on three-time incumbent Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s son. He is being groomed to carry forward his father’s legacy and make Congress strong in the Northeast.
London-educated Surajkumar Singh is making his electoral debut from Khangabok constituency, held by his mother, Okram Landhoni, for the past 10 years. She is not seeking re-election and has made way for her son.
Surajkumar said he will focus on the underprivileged section and the youth. “I want the youth to get jobs.
I’ll work with them and ensure that they get jobs according to their skills. For this, we are planning to start training programmes,” the 29-year-old said.
An economics graduate from London’s Kingston University, Surajkumar has been a state-level paddler. He takes interest in polo too. He is married with a son. He will fight BJP’s Manipur unit vice-president Jadumani.
“The constituency has been a family for the last 30 years. As my mother wished to retire, people wanted me to contest and work for them,” he said. “Certain pockets in the constituency where people are slightly underprivileged. I want to work in those areas.”
Surajkumar might be a novice in electoral politics, but he is no stranger to the people of Manipur. He has been working at the grassroots-level since his return from the UK in 2011. He is associated with many organisations, one of them being the Green Revolution Society Manipur, which plants saplings to create awareness on global warming.
“I know people will expect a lot from me as I am the chief minister’s son,” added Surajkumar.