GUWAHATI: A Manipuri is paving the way for himself to contest the presidential election alongside National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Ram Nath Kovind and Opposition candidate Meira Kumar.
Ibochouba Singh Konthoujam, 42, collected the nomination form from the Parliament on Tuesday.
Konthoujam, who hails from Manipur’s Bishnupur district and runs an NGO called D-Cacus Education Centre, made an appeal to political parties besides MPs and MLAs to extend their support to him. At the same time, he is running a campaign on the social media to try and get people’s support.
He said he would launch a campaign in Delhi on Friday to seek the support of people and thereafter, look to garner the support of political parties in states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana etc.
“Getting the signatures of at least 100 people is the first hurdle. After that, my friends and I will look to garner the support of 100 MPs and MLAs to be able to contest the election,” Konthoujam told The New Indian Express from Delhi on Thursday.
He said he was a post-graduate from Manav Bharti University, Himachal Pradesh, and did his PhD from Vishwakarma Open University, Delhi.
“The reason I am looking forward to contesting the election is that I want to make India corruption-free. I can do that only when I am holding a post at the highest level,” said Konthoujam, who appeared quirky.
Development of economy and human resources, creation of job opportunities and restructuring the “age-old” Indian administrative system will be some of his priority areas.
Stating that he will meet Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said he was optimistic about getting the support of around 60 lawmakers from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.
“I am not sure if I will get the support of 100 elected members. But I feel around 35 of them from Delhi and UP, 15 to 20 others from Telangana and 10 others from elsewhere, including Manipur, will back my candidature,” a confident Konthoujam asserted.
He added, “Twenty years ago, my NGO had set up a school, which now imparts education up to class X. The other came into existence last year. There are altogether 240 students who are availing education for free.”