IMPHAL, November 6: The date for electing the new president of the BJP Manipur Unit will be announced shortly. The development came post the two day visit of P Chandra Sekhar Rao , BJP northeast organization secretary at Imphal.
A source from the party states that arrangements are nearing completion for conducting the presidential election by the State Unit and after consultation with the High Command at the national level.
A total of 73 electors have been selected from the 60 assembly constituencies and the remaining 13 had been selected from the constituencies on grounds of SC and ST status including women representatives, it said.
Further, according to the BJP party constitution, a person who has been elected as the President for a term of 3 years cannot stand in election but the constitution has been amended and the present president can stand for re-election.
Sh Shantikumar Sharma , President of BJP State Unit whose term expires on December 15, 2012 will contest the election, the source confirmed.
The State Unit and national leaders are trying to field a consensus candidate, but there is no precedent of the national leaders handing over the presidential seat without an election.
The source added that Chandrasekhar Rao after consulting with Party leaders will arrive at the State shortly with election observers to announce the date of the election.