Imphal, May 02: Even as the two SPF partners, Congress and CPI, have not been able to settle the question of seat sharing for the forthcoming by-election to Khangabok and Khundrakpam A/Cs, MPP of Opposition group has convened a meeting of its election committee to discuss whom to select as the party candidate in the Khangabok by-election.

A meeting of the SPF Legislature Party, the biggest body of the Government was held yesterday to discuss which parties among the Congress and the CPI would field their candidates from which constituencies, but the resolution could be brought about.

The meeting held with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the chair in his office chamber was attended by party president and Minister Gaikhangam and Phungzathang Tonsing from the side of Congress party.

While from the side of the CPI, State secretary of the party B Sharma, Steering Committee convenor and former Minister Dr M Nara, Minister Ph Parijat and MLA N Mangi were present.

In accordance to information received by the press, during the meeting Dr Nara proposed that keeping with the coalition culture, CPI should sacrifice and extend support to Congress in the Khangabok by-election and similarly Congress should sacrifice and extend support to CPI in the Khundrakpam by-election.

However, instead of taking the proposal of the CPI seriously, Congress simply maintained it has not discuss the matter related to the election, thereby bringing a deadlock to any further discussion in this connection.

It may be recalled that the meeting of the election committee of the MPCC held on April 27 resolved to field Landhoni, wife of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the Khangabok by-election and the permission of the AICC taken already in this regard.

Even for the Khundrakpam by-election, the party has already starting making arrangement for fielding its own candidate and get absolute majority in the election.

On the other hand, with the intention of keeping the Khangabok seat clear for the Congress to contest, CPI has already started campaigning for fielding Laishram Premchand, who contested and got second position in the last Assembly election, in the Khundrakpam by-election again.

Amidst this political development, MPP has convened a meeting of the party's election committee tomorrow to discuss the Khangabok by-election.

Till today, Kh Angou has reportedly taken the application form for contesting in the Khangabok by-election as party candidate.

However, L Jatra, who contested in the last election but got defeated has not yet taken the form.

Meanwhile, although the ECI has announced June 2 as the scheduled date for holding the Khangabok by-election, the State Election Office has send a written missive to the Committee for holding the two by-elections together.

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