IMPHAL, Jan 13 � Altogether 291 aspiring candidates including 14 women are in the contest to the January 28 Assembly polls in Manipur. Filing of nominations closes tomorrow.
While the candidates are campaigning for the polls, civil society organisations in Manipur today took to the streets urging people to choose the right candidate for a prosperous and self-reliant Manipur in the election.
Holding festoons and pla- cards which read �Towards public issue based election, vote for life with dignity and a resurgent Manipur�, �Formulate self-reliance with economic policy�, the rallyists representing civil society organisations marched from Kwakeithel area and passed through Tiddim Road to conclude at Keishampat junction here.
�Let us decide by ourselves,� said the Convener of People�s Campaign for Assembly Election, Manipur (PACE-M)-2012, Deben Bachaspatimayum. It had also held a public deliberation under the theme �Towards public issue based election� on December 26 at Manipur Press Club.
In the meantime, three Assembly Constituencies in Manipur are likely to witness straight fights. The three seats are Kakching in Thoubal, Karong in Senapati and Moirang in Bishnupur districts.
In Kakching, CPI candidate N Achouba faces Congress MLA Y Surchandra while in Karong, Naga People�s Front Dr V Alexander Pao will face the Minister DD Thaisii of Congress. Similarly sitting MLA, M Prithiviraj is competing against a retired IAS officer P Saratchandra of NCP in Moirang.
Congress has fielded candidates in all the 60 seats, while Trinamool Congress and Manipur State Congress Party have fielded 47 and 27 candidates respectively. Nationalist Congress Party 23, CPI -23, BJP -19, MPP -14,NPF -12, JD(U) -8 makes up rest of the field.
