Imphal, December 03 2008: FORMER MANIPUR Chief Minister, Wahengbam Nipamacha who is also president of the RJD, Manipur unit, along with 18 other important functionaries of the party have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP today as the political parties in the state began preparations for the forthcoming Lok Shabha election which is likely to come up in the early part of the next year 2009 .

Meanwhile, notification of the bye-election to the Moirang Assembly Constituency in Bishnupur district which is lying vacant after the sitting MLA of the constituency, Mairenbam Munindro, expired in October last have been issued today.

The joining of the former Manipur Chief Minister along with important functionaries of the RJD state unit was announced today in a simple function held at 2 pm at the office of the BJP state unit, Imphal by its president H Borbabu Singh.

Other who joined the BJP today included RJD's vice-president W Zoram, secretary and former MLA S Natum, treasurer, Th Chaoba, two general secretaries and district level presidents of the party.

"I have decided to join the BJP considering the need of strengthening the national political party leading the NDA in the state and to defeat the Congress led UPA in the country," W Nipamacha, the former chief minister, said speaking at the felicitation ceremony.

He also expressed firm belief that under the leadership of BJP, the NDA will come to power after forthcoming general election by defeating Congress led UPA ally.

Welcoming the former chief minister in joining the party, BJP state unit president H Borbabu has said that with the joining of more political personalities of the state to the party, the strength of the party is increasing day by day.

He said that recently many important politicians of different parties like the MPP had joined the party.

BJP has also started consideration of choosing its candidates to be sent out in the forthcoming Parliamentary election, he said.

In the meantime, election notification for the bye-election to the Moirang Assembly constituency has been issued today.

The last date of making nominations is on December 10 while the scrutiny will be held on next day.

The last date of withdrawal of the candidature is on December 13 .

The polling will hold on December 27 while the counting will be done on December 30.The authority is scheduled to complete all election process by January 1, 2009 as per the notification.

Mention may be made that the Chief Election Commission of India, ECI had announced the poll schedule of the bye-election to the Moirang A/C on November 23 last to fill up the seat which was occupied by M Munindro who won the Assembly election held in the early part of 2007 .

Congress MLA Mairenbam Manindra of Moirang Assembly Constituency had passed away at the RIMS Hospital after a brief illness on October 26 last.

His son Mairenbam Prithiviraj is expected to contest the bye-election on an Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) ticket.

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