Imphal, June 30: Manipuri social worker Ibochouba Singh Konthoujam, who had entered the race to become the next President of India, has missed the bus to Raisina Hill because his nomination was rejected by the returning officer yesterday on the grounds that he did not have enough signatures from MPs and MLAs pledging their support for his candidacy.

The setback, however, has failed to dampen Konthoujam's spirits and he is waiting for the next presidential elections.

Konthoujam was among more than 100 candidates whose nomination papers were rejected. The last date for filing nominations was June 28. Although so many candidates entered the presidential race, the election is practically going to be a two-way race between the NDA's Ram Nath Kovind and the Opposition's Meira Kumar.

"I was lucky that my nomination papers were not rejected on the day of filing itself, as was the case for several others. I was rejected during scrutiny yesterday because I did not have enough supporters," Konthoujam said.

He said a candidate requires the support of at least 100 MPs and MLAs to make it to the final stage of the race. However, Konthoujam declined to disclose the number of MPs and MLAs who had signed his nomination papers.

"My failure in the first attempt does not discourage me at all. I will start preparing for the next presidential election. I am hoping to garner enough support next time because I have now gained experience," Konthoujam, who returned from New Delhi today, told The Telegraph.

Konthoujam, 42, and a father of three, hails from Ningthoukhong, a small town in Bishnupur district, about 30km south of Imphal. He calls himself a social worker and runs a school in his locality for children from below poverty line (BPL) families. He has also organised workshops to provide vocational training on embroidery, carpentry, tailoring, handloom and handicrafts.

Konthoujam said he makes a living by running a small business.

"I got support from some MPs and MLAs in Delhi. I did not get any support from Manipur though I had sought support from them," he said.

Konthoujam said he had approached the Manipur units of the BJP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party but they could not support him without the consent of their party high commands.

He talked about changing the political system in the country and claimed that he now knew how to get support.