In the Know Your Candidate series, tfipost.com will profile interesting candidates in the run-up to the 2019 General Elections.
Keishing James Lalrongbawl is all set to contest from the outer Manipur parliamentary constituency on a Congress ticket. Public servant turned politician, K James comes to the race by dislodging the current sitting Congress MP Thangso Baite. However, with just a few days remaining for the polls, clouds of doubt over K James’ candidature are getting denser.
The Punjab National Bank in a letter written to the Election Commission of India has claimed that the Congress candidate , K James is a willful defaulter with his dues amounting to a whopping Rs. 116 Crore.
Punjab national bank writes to #ElectionCommission complaining about Congress candidate from Manipur Keishing James Lalrongbawl who has wilfully defaulted 100 Cr + loans and now contesting #loksabhaelections2019 on Congress ticket. pic.twitter.com/VA3QtgPkxD
— Anindya (@AninBanerjee) April 1, 2019
PNB in a letter dated 28th March to the Chief Election Commissioner claimed that the bank had sanctioned a cash credit loan of RS 100 Crore and a term loan of Rs. 17 lacs in favor of M/s North East Region Fin Services Limited in which the Congress Candidate from outer Manipur constituency, K James was a director and a personal guarantor, however the account had turned an NPA due to nonpayment of dues. The companies and the director had failed to repay willfully despite a three period from the account turning NPA. The Bank also said that they are now in the process of declaring them willful defaulters. PNB has also filed a recovery suit at DRT Guwahati. The letter also mentioned K James’ resignation from the directorship of the firm in order to suppress the fact of availing the loan.
In the letter PNB requested the ECI to take appropriate steps, “In the circumstances aforesaid, we being a responsible organization bestowed with protecting national interest, hereby deeming it fit, is thus conveying to your kind notice that Mr. Keishing James Lalrongbawl is a defaulter as much as he willfully failed and neglected to repay the legitimate dues of the bank being a borrower and a special guarantor. We hereby further request you to kindly take all necessary action against Mr. Keishing James Lalrongbawl as may be warranted under law so that such defaulters of public money be deterred from contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in better interest of the country.”
The Manipur Chief Election Officer taking the issue into cognizance has directed the returning officer of Thoubal district in a letter to take all necessary actions under the guidelines set by the ECI.