Imphal, November 05 2010: Following recommendation of the State Cabinet to the Election Commission of India to hold by-election to the Konthoujam Assembly Constituency next month, political parties and intending candidates have started canvassing and electioneering activities.

The by-election was necessitated following the demise of incumbent Congress MLA and Speaker Dr Sapam Budhichandra.

Following the State Cabinet's recommendation, Dr S Ranjan, son of late Dr S Budhichandra has been projected as the Congress candidate to retain Konthoujam seat which was won by his father in the 9th Assembly elections.

Dr Ranjan is confident that MPCC president Gaikhangam and Chief Minister O Ibobi would give him Congress candidate.

Interestingly, SPF coalition partner CPI has decided to field Okram Ibotombi as their candidate in the by-election.

Ibotombi had already contested for the Konthoujam seat in the 7th and 8th Assembly elections.

On the other hand, Konthoujam Sarat who secured second position as NPP candidate in the 9th Assembly elections has started his election campaign for the by-poll in full swing.

Incidentally, late Dr Budhichandra secured Konthoujam seat ahead of Konthoujam Sarat just by a margin of 84 votes.

Even as SPF coalition partners, Congress and CPI have decided to field their own candidates in the by-election, other political parties like MPP, NCP, BJP etc have not taken any definite decision as yet.

Although Konthoujam Sarat fought the last Assembly election under NPP ticket, it remains undecided whether he would join the fray as NPP candidate or affiliate himself to another party.

Election campaigns of different candidates for the Konthoujam A/C by-election which has 28 polling stations are steadily picking up.

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