266 nominations filed for Manipur Assembly polls

IMPHAL: 266 candidates have filed nomination papers for the 60-member Manipur Assembly polls on January 28, according to preliminary reports reaching the election office here.

However, the final count would be arrived at only after getting details from interior hill districts, they said.

Yesterday was the last date for filing nomination papers and scrutiny would be done today. The date of withdrawal was January 14.

The exact number of candidates would be known only after scrutiny and compiling reports from returning officers posted in the interior areas, the election office said.

Ruling Congress has fielded candidates in all the 60 constituencies including Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, party President Gaikhangam and most of the ministers in the present government, sources said.

People's Democratic Front (formed by Manipur People's Party, NCP, Janata Dal (U), CPI (M) and state unit of Rashtraya Janata Dal) nominated candidates in all the constituencies.

The other major parties having fielded their candidates were BJP, Trinamool Congress, Manipur State Congress Party and others, sources said.

Meanwhile, over 10200 security personnel have arrived here.