Congress names committees for Manipur polls, includes MP facing harassment allegations

The Congress party has unveiled its committee structure for the Manipur Assembly elections, appointing Inner Manipur Member of Parliament Bimol Akoijam to three significant positions within the organizational hierarchy. Akoijam, who also serves as a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, has been assigned roles that place him in key decision-making bodies for the electoral campaign.

The appointment comes amid allegations of sexual harassment against Akoijam, with 11 female students from JNU having filed complaints against the politician and academic. These accusations have raised questions about the party's vetting process and decision-making criteria for committee placements.

The Congress party has not publicly addressed the reasoning behind its decision to include Akoijam despite the pending allegations. The move has drawn sharp rebuttals from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has questioned the appropriateness of the appointment and used it to attack the ruling party's commitment to accountability and safeguarding.

This development reflects broader tensions within Indian politics over how parties handle allegations against senior members, particularly in contexts involving institutional misconduct. The controversy underscores ongoing debates about party discipline and the treatment of harassment complaints within India's political establishment.