Imphal, April 09 2009: With the nomination filings of the 16 (sixteen) candidates, nine for the Outer and seven for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituencies, scrutinised and passed by the concerned Returning Officers (ROs) besides campaigns hitting crescendo especially of the Outer Manipur which goes on poll before the Inner Manipur, the state of Manipur is all set for the upcoming 15th Lok Sabha elections.

Manipur will go on poll on April 16 for the Outer Manipur while the Inner Manipur will go on polls on April 22 where over 20 lakh voters will decide the fate of the sixteen candidates for the state's two seats at the centre, one each of the Inner and Outer.

Meanwhile, the Congress, Bharatya Janata Party (BJP) and the Manipur Democratic Alliance (MDA), an alliance formed jointly the Manipur People's Party (MPP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and the National People's Party (NPP) are seen as the main competitors in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency.

In the Outer Manipur, the Congress, BJP and the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) are seen as the main rivals.

Nevertheless, political parties have begun their campaigns to woo voters from various corners of the state especially in the hill areas where election goes before the Inner Manipur.

In the Outer Manipur constituency, the PDA candidate and Member of Parliament (MP) Mani Charenamei and BJP's candidate D.Loli Adanee are seen as the main rivals with both the candidates reaching out to the farthest corners of the hill district seeking support and assuring help from their side if elected.

Interesting, the Congress, after Rahul Gandhi, the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) having kicked-off its campaigns in Churachandpur district, have been silent for the moment.

However, reports have it the Congress is all set to give a big challenge to the PDA and BJP in the hills.

Not to be left behind, general secretary of the NCP, PA Sangma Tuesday visited the state of Manipur and kicked of the campaign for the MDA at Churachandpur district.

LB Sona of the MPP is the consensus candidate for the MDA.

Keeping in tune with the Outer Manipur, candidates of the Inner Manipur Parliamentary are, as per reports, high on campaigns too.

And giving a major boost to the BJP campaign in the state, P Chandrashekhar Rao, BJP Zonal Organising Secretary for North East state, visiting the state on April 3 took a pot shot at the Congress and the MPP stating both the parties have failed in living up to the expectations of the people of the state.

Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the AICC is also scheduled to visit the state of Manipur later this week, as per reports, and kick off campaign of the party thereby also injecting some adrenaline to the party's campaign in the state.

Prior to all these, giving the green signal to all the 16 (sixteen) candidates, the concerned ROs scrutinised the nomination files of the candidates and cleared them to compete in the forthcoming 15th Lok Sabha elections.

While RK.

Dinesh, deputy commissioner of Thoubal district and RO of Outer Manipur Constituency scrutinised and passed the nine candidates on March 31, A.Ibocha, DC of Imphal West and RO scrutinised and passed the seven candidates for the Inner Manipur on April 6 .

Candidates for the Outer Manipur are candidates are LB.

Sona of the NCP, D.Loli Adanee of the BJP, Jhangso Baite of the Congress, Mani Charanamei of the PDA, Jamkhongam Haokip of the RJD, Rose Mangshi Haokip of the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP), ValleyRose, Thangkhajin and Lalammoi Paite as Independent candidates.

The seven candidates for the Inner Manipur are sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Dr.Th.Meinya of Congress, former chief minister of Manipur, W.Nipamacha of the BJP, lone women candidate L.Khetrani of Rashtriya Bahujan Congress Party (RBCP), Dr..MNara of the CPI, A.Rahman and Mr..NHomendro as Independents and Th.Chaoba of the MDA.

Besides campaigns, security is being tightened in the state too with state police commandos carrying out mass cordon operation being carried out in the heart of the Imphal city for the past two to three days.

Though no arrests might have been reported from the cordon operations, it perhaps shows clear sign that Manipur is gearing up for the elections.

And with such activities, campaigns and security, increasing in the state, it definitely appears the stage is almost all set for the fateful day.

However, for the moment only time will tell who the winner is ultimately.

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