IMPHAL, Dec 31 � Political observers said the main contest in the forthcoming polls would be between Congress and the alliance of MPP, JD (U), NCP and RJD combine.
MPP leader O Joy told reporters that the combine would fight the polls on the issues of Manipur�s boundary, corruption, political conflict, misuse of drugs and identity of Manipuris.
Meanwhile, two major political parties in Manipur today said they would announce the names of their candidates for the forthcoming Assembly polls on January 28 next, said sources. Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaikhangam told mediapersons that the party�s election committee would meet on January 2 to shortlist the candidates of the party for the forthcoming polls saying more than 166 aspirants had submitted their nomination forms for the Manipur Assembly.
He said the meeting would short list the candidates and forward it to the party high command for approval hoping that the party high command would approve it by January 6.
Gaikhangam said some sitting MLAs of non-Congress parties had applied for Congress tickets for the forthcoming elections but it could not be immediately decided whether they could be given tickets or not.
The main opposition party, Manipur People�s Party (MPP) today said that it would also hold party election committee meeting on January 2 to finalise the list of the candidates.
Senior legislature wing leader O Joy said the party was likely to put up 15 candidates.
Sources in the party said MPP along with Nationalist Congress Party, Janata Dal (United) and State unit of the Rashtriya Janata Dal had formed a pre-poll alliance for the forthcoming polls.
Another opposition BJP leader said they would fight the elections on the issues of corruption by ruling Congress.
Senior BJP leader and election observer of the Northeastern States P V Acharya while speaking at a function of the party yesterday here said Congress was indulging in corrupt practices and it was time to throw them out of power this time.
State BJP unit vice president Tiken Singh said Congress-led rule of Secular Progressive Front (SPF) Ministry for ten years could be described as �dark decade of Manipur� as during their rule killings, kidnappings for ransom, lootings, and all sorts of crimes reached the maximum level.
He said it was time for the people of Manipur to change the government adding people suffered so much because of the more than 100-day economic blockade and law and order related issues.
Meanwhile, MPP sources said two of its MLAs had resigned from the party to contest the elections under tickets of different parties.
Former Deputy Speaker and party MLA Th Shyamkumar had resigned from the party on December 28 last saying MPP leaders was �indecisive� on major State issues and would contest under Trinamool Congress ticket.
Another MPP MLA R K Anand had resigned from the party about a week ago and would fight the election under different party ticket. � PTI
