Imphal, February 16 2009: Manipur People's Party (MPP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Manipur Unit have strengthened their resolve to join hands in the ensuing general elections.

In the meantime, Outer Manipur MP, Mani Charanamei is reported to be intent on contending for Congress ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election.

Leader of legislature wing of MPP, MLA O Joy and president of NCP Manipur Unit, MLA Radhabinod Koijam had been to Shillong recently to meet the National leader of NCP, PA Sangma to seek his opinions on the MPP-NCP pre-poll pact.

Reliable source said that the NCP leader, PA Sangma welcomed the idea, and after thorough discussions on merits and demerits, agreed with the proposal of the two parties' pre-poll pact.

It is learnt that O Joy informed PA Sangma that it has been already agreed at state level that the MPP will support the NCP's candidate for the Outer Manipur seat while the NCP will support the candidate for Inner Manipur seat.

Radhabinod Koijam also placed the same information before PA Sangma.

After listening to both the leaders, Sangma gave his consent on the two parties' alliance.

The MPP's leaders met today at the party office and discussed matters relating to the new poll alliance with NCP.

Sources said that since Congress has not yet announced its candidates for the Outer and Inner seats, the MPP and the NCP are also unwilling to make a hasty announcement of their candidates.

On the other hand, the leaders of both parties will be talking to the leader of National People's Party (NPP), V Hangkhalian about poll alliance.

Only then, the two parties will announce their candidates, sources said.

Meanwhile, the MPCC has started ground works for finding the right candidates for both parliamentary seats of the state to contest in the forthcoming general elections.

It is learnt that Inner Manipur MP, Dr T Meinya and former Speaker of Manipur Assembly, Dr Md Maniruddin Sheikh would contend for the Congress ticket.

And for the Outer seat, former Education Minister Fancis Ngajokpa, Dr Chaltolien Amo, etc are reportedly among those who would be contending for the party ticket.

Interestingly, present Independent MP of Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, Mani Charanamei is also most likely to make an attempt to get the Congress ticket to contest in the ensuing election.

Though an Independent, the MP is presently supporting the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

Congress sources told the Hueiyen Lanpao that as per provisions of the constitution of Congress party, its president has the power to make an Independent MP an executive member of the party.

Therefore, rumours are doing the rounds that Mani Charanamei would probably be one of the contenders for the Congress ticket for the Outer seat.

Comment