IMPHAL, Jan 14: With the the official notification for the bye-election to the Konthoujam AC, three aspirant candidates, including Dr. Sapam Ranjan son of former speaker late Dr. S Budhichandra, Konthoujam Sharat Singh of Konthoujam Mayai Leikai and Khangembam Ranjit of Khumbong have intensified their house to house election campaigns.
It is also becoming very clear that Dr. S Ranjan of Konthoujam Maning Leikai will be given Congress ticket to contest the election to the Konthoujam A/C scheduled for February 14, next month.
The opposition parties including, MPP, NCP and BJP are not yet ready to set up their candidates to contest the bye-election.
It may be mentioned that, Konthoujam Sharat Singh who contested the last general election held in 2007 on a MPP ticket was defeated by the late Dr. S Budhichandra of Congress by a slender margin of 75 votes and is having high hopes of winning the bye-election this time.
Reports said the opposition parties like MPP and BJP and NCP have come open that they are not in the position to set up any candidate to contest in the forthcoming bye-election.
There is also still uncertainty which party tickets both Konthoujam Sharat Singh and Khangembam Ranjit Singh are going to contest on.
On the other hand, CPI which is a partner of the SPF government of the state is considering for the formation of a third front to contest the ensuing bye-election to the said constituency.
Tthe matter has been thrashed out during the executive meeting of state unit CPI yesterday.
The meeting however fell short of coming out with a final decision on the strategy to fight the by-election.
The meeting however also further decided to wait for the recommendations of the CPI Konthoujam council, the reliable source added.
In the meantime, Election Commission of India, has officially fixed the date of poll for the bye-election to the Konthoujam A/C on February, 14 next month.
The last date of nomination is on January, 28 this month, scrutiny of nominations will be done on January 29, last date of withdrawal of candidatures will be on January, 31 this month.
Counting of votes will be done on February 17 next month.
The Konthoujam Assembly constituency has a total of 24890 voters including 12,163 male and 12,727 female voters.
