Ahead of the June 18 Rajya Sabha election, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh secured unanimous NDA backing for A Sharda Devi’s candidature for Manipur’s sole Upper House seat
Imphal: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has officially backed A Sharda Devi for Manipur’s lone Rajya Sabha seat, setting the stage for the biennial election scheduled on June 18, 2026.
The decision was finalised during a meeting convened by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who held discussions with NDA legislators both physically and virtually at the state secretariat on Saturday.
Announcing the development, Khemchand Singh said the alliance had extended unanimous support to Sharda Devi, currently the BJP’s Manipur state president. He noted that the decision reflected the NDA’s commitment to “unity, democratic values and women’s empowerment through meaningful participation in public life.”
The election has been necessitated by the upcoming retirement of sitting Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, whose term ends on June 21, 2026. Voting will be conducted in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, with counting and declaration of results scheduled for the same day.
As per the Election Commission’s timetable, nominations can be filed until June 8, scrutiny will take place on June 9, while candidates may withdraw their nominations until June 11. Polling is slated from 8 am to 4 pm, followed by counting at 5 pm.
The Manipur contest forms part of a larger exercise covering 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, including Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.
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