Parties prepare themselves for contesting elections in Manipur

GUWAHATI: Political parties are queuing in to contest the two phased assembly polls of Manipur in March.

Manipur People’s Party ( MPP), the oldest regional party in the north-east will contest 39 constituencies in the 60 member house.

MPP has twice ruled Manipur. However in 2012 assembly polls MPP was not able to win a single seat. MPP is confident of good show in this election.

Meghalaya's opposition party National Peoples Party ( NPP) will make electoral debut and will contest around 25 to 30 seats.

NPP was founded by former speaker, Late P.A Sangma. NPP National executive member and Meghalaya MLA James Sangma said NPP has already constituted a State election management committee.

NPP is a member of BJP floated platform of non-congress parties, Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA).

James told ET, “We are open to pre poll alliance. NEDA thing is not exactly happening in Manipur polls as opposition Naga People's Front (NPF) and BJP are contesting separately in the polls. NPF is a member of NDA. ”

James added, “We are having discussion with BJP to stitch up alliance.” Already BJP has declared that it will contest 60 assembly seats on its own.

BJP while meet on Tuesday in in New Delhi to finalise the party’s candidates.

Congress is in the final stages of selecting the candidates.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, who is the party’s election-in-charge for Manipur polls said, “The party’s central election committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss Manipur’s ticket issue.”