Five candidates file nomination papers in Manipur

IMPHAL, April 24: Altogether five candidates filed nominations papers for the Kshetrigao by-election which will be held on May 11. Former BJP vice-president Irengbam Sanatomba filed his nomination as Congress (1) candidate on the closing day today. The four other candidates are W Hemanta of MSCP (N), Vivek Raj Wangkhem of Samata, Laishram Somorjit of MSCP (C) and Md Muhamuddin Shah of RJD. Among the candidates, Md Muhamuddin Shah filed four nomination papers (two as an independent candidate) while Vivek Raj Wangkhem filed three nomination papers. Scrutiny will be held tomorrow at 11 am while the last date for withdrawal is April 27. Nominations of both Hemanta of MSCP (N) and Somorjit of MSCP (C) are likely to be rejected as they failed to submit Form-A and Form-B. MSCP (C) may withdraw Somorjit's nomination in view of the discussion of fielding a common candidate of the ruling People's Front (PF) in the interest of the NDA at the Centre. The Opposition Congress has accepted Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's challenge to fight the forthcoming Assembly elections in some States as a referendum of the people to the policies of his Government, Manipur unit Congress president Okram Ibobi Singh said while addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan this evening. During the election campaign, the Congress will expose NDA's dummy like the PF Government's failure on all fronts, Ibobi said. Former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing blamed Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam for all the problems besetting the State as he joined hands with former Chief Minister Nipamacha who had worsened the situation. Meanwhile elaborate security arrangements have been taken up to ensure a smooth polling. Mobile teams of the Porompat police station are trying to ferret out armed persons at different places of the constituency.