Imphal, January 16: The electoral exercise for the 8th Manipur Assembly elections began in right earnest today with four candidates filing their nominations soon after the issue of formal election notification by the state chief electoral officer.

Former minister Y Erabot, who will be contesting the election to the Wangkhei Assembly constituency on a Manipur State Congress Party ticket, was among the first to file his nomination before the concerned returning officer of Imphal east district.

Erabot, until recently a senior member of the Indian National Congress, joined the MSCP after being denied the Congress ticket.

Another ex-minister, N Bihari Singh also filed his nomination papers for Khurai Assembly constituencies.

He was elected on an MSCP ticket in 7th Assembly elections and later joined the BJP.

He will be contesting the forthcoming elections as a Federal Party of Manipur, FPM, candidate.

Bihari was one of two MLAs who were seriously injured after being caught in the Assembly building blaze during the June 18 uprising.

In Thoubal district, another former minister, Dr Nimaichand Luwang filed his nomination papers for Wangkhem Assembly constituency as a candidate of the Manipur�s People�s Party, MPP.

He was elected to the 7th Assembly as a Congress candidate, and later joined the Samata Party.

A report from Churachandpur adds that former deputy Speaker of the state Assembly, TT Haokip, also filed his nomination papers today on an Indian National Congress ticket.

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