Imphal, September 18: Even though official process has been set into motion for the October 13 by-election of Konthoujam assembly constituency political parties are yet to file nomination of their respective candidates till date.

Election notification was issued three days ago and as per announcement of Election of India the filing of nomination will come to close on September 22.According to State election office sources, who speculated that political parties might be awaiting for an auspicious day to complete the formalities also expressed that September 22 may be the choice for most of the candidates to file nomination papers.

The lack of initiatives from the political parties may also be related to the by-election boycott call given by AFSPA agitation spearhead Apunba Lup who had also asked all concerned against entering the Konthoujam AC by-poll fray, said press sources.

The reluctance of both the ruling front and some opposition political parties to make the first move also assumes significance as they have already mooted contesting the by-poll.

While the ruling partners of SPF Government had resolved to put up Congress candidate as consensus nominee, the Opposition alliance had projected MPP choice as common candidate also followed by declarations of the MSCP and NCP to field their respective candidates.

Mention may be made that the CPI and Congress party had agreed to jointly contest the by-poll with the latter's choice of candidate as the common contestant.

However, even after days of reaching the agreement selection of candidate continues to elude the Congress.

Informed sources disclosed of the MPCC President and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh having left for New Delhi along with the list of prospective party candidates.

The delay in finalising the Congress candidate for the by-poll is reported to be due to O Ibobi unable to meet the party chief Sonia Gandhi.

However, Congress party sources informing that the Chief Minister will return tomorrow said name of the selected candidate may be officially announced soon after his return from New Delhi.

On the other hand, another SPF ally MSCP had already announced fielding Angom Manihar as the party candidate for friendly contest with the SPF nominee.

Leaders of the seven party opposition conglomerate - Political Parties Forum - had also declared to field Konthoujam Ranbir as consensus candidate to contest the by-election with issue of lifting AFSPA as the main agenda.

Even though decision has been taken to put former Minister Heikrujam Thoithoi as Nationalist Congress Party candidate State unit president of the party V Hangkhanlian is informed to be leaving for the national capital tomorrow for selection of Thoithoi's candidature officially.

Even though concerned political parties are refraining from organizing public-meetings, sources revealed of frequent camera-meetings currently underway to galvanize votes.

The source further informed of three Konthoujam area organizations having convened a meeting of prospective candidates and their supporters on September 15 at Heikrujam High School.

However, the meeting could not adopt any definite resolution as most candidates failed to turn up.

To canvas for K Ranbir, Political Parties Forum has set up a State level election campaign committee during yesterday's meeting of all the opposition leaders, MLAs and supporters at Kuki Inn.

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