CPI announces list of candidates for Manipur elections

Imphal, Jan 11 (UNI) The Communist Party of India has announced the first list of candidates for next month's Assembly elections in Manipur.

CPI leader B Sharma issued a list having the names of 23 candidates, including those of two women. He said another list will be issued within the next few days.

The party had five MLAs in the outgoing Assembly and plans to nearly double the number, Agriculture minister and senior CPI leader Ph Parijat said.

Besides him, the list includes the names of N Mangi, M Nara, Th Tomba, M Nabadwip. Former MP, Miss Kim Gangte will contest from Henglep constituency.

Mr Sharma said the party was against the policy of giving tickets to rich contractors or businessmen. ''Only people who worked for the society were selected,'' he said. He further said the party could have fielded candidates in large number of seats in the 60-member Assembly but it was decided to restrict to those constituencies where the CPI had good base.

The CPI will go alone in the elections though it was part of the ruling Secular Progressive Front, Mr Sharma said. The Congress and the CPI, both allies of the ruling front, had reached an understanding to fight the elections on their own, he said.

UNI