Parties prepare to issue tickets for polls

Imphal, Jan 6: Political parties in Manipur have started bracing up for next month's ninth assembly election.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who had a setback as about 3000 Congress workers from his Khangabok constituency led by local party leader L Bachu, joined the Manipur People Party, would contest from the Thoubal and Khangabok constituencies.

The CPI(M), which has little foothold in the state, would field candidates in Khundrakpam and Hiyanglam constituencies out of 60 seats.

The Janata Dal(Secular) had already announced that it would field candidates in most constituencies. The Nationalist Congress Party had started asking aspirants to apply for party tickets.

Congress leaders said so far about 110 people had applied for tickets, prominent among them being BJP MLA and former chief minister R K Dorendra. Other opposition members who applied for Congress ticket include, Y Irabot and Vivek Raj Wangkhem of Manipur State Congress Party and I Hemochandra, N Biren and Chandra of the Federal Party of Manipur.

Congress leaders said some women aspirants like Co-operation Minister W Leima, A K Mirabai,Youth Congress president L Tilottama and president of Kuki Mothers Association Rose Mangshi had also applied for tickets.

UNI