New Delhi: The Congress party has found itself at the centre of a political controversy ahead of the Manipur elections after appointing Inner Manipur Member of Parliament (MP) Angomcha Bimol Akoijam to crucial election committees. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the parliamentarian is currently facing sexual harassment allegations levelled by several female students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
According to the official announcement, the Congress leadership has named Akoijam as a core member of the state’s election campaign committee and appointed him as the Vice-Chairman of the election manifesto committee.
The controversy stems from serious allegations made by multiple JNU students, which prompted the Delhi Police to register a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following an internal inquiry into the sexual harassment complaints, JNU authorities dismissed Akoijam from his position as a professor on October 9.
However, the legal proceedings remain ongoing. Akoijam subsequently challenged the university’s decision, and on November 2, the Delhi High Court temporarily stayed his dismissal. Furthermore, a designated MP/MLA court in Delhi has currently halted his arrest, explicitly directing the police to issue a seven-day prior notice if they intend to take him into custody. The next court hearing on the matter is scheduled for January 27. Akoijam has consistently denied all accusations, publicly labelling them as politically motivated attempts to tarnish his image.
Despite the judicial relief, the BJP was quick to condemn the political appointment. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor launched a scathing attack on the Congress high command, alleging that the move exposes an “anti-women” mindset within the party’s leadership.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kapoor questioned the ethics behind the strategic decision. “While it is true that the MP has received some temporary relief from the court, he has not been acquitted. The police case is still actively pending against him,” Kapoor stated.
The BJP spokesperson further questioned how the Congress could entrust such significant electoral responsibilities to an individual facing exploitation charges from 11 female students, arguing that elevating him to the manifesto committee fundamentally contradicts the party’s claims of championing women’s rights and safety.