Imphal, March 31: Setting to rest all doubts and speculations, GAD Minister Francis Ngajokpa today filed his nomination papers for the Outer Parliamentary seat as a Congress nominee.

Incidentally today was the last date for filing nomination papers for the Outer seat.

MPP candidate Kim Gangte also filed her nomination papers as did RSP nominee Thangkhogin.

In an interesting turn of event, Morung Makunga, who had earlier filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate, submitted a fresh application today as a candidate of the Nationalist Trinamool Congress party.

Led by Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing, a host of Congress leaders descended on the office of the Imphal West DC, Y Surchandra, who is also the Returning Officer for the election and submitted the nomination papers of Francis Ngajokpa.

The Congress leaders, who accompanied Rishang Keishing included Commerce and Industries Minister Th Debendra, former MPCC (I) president and presently the Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Works Minister Gaikhangam, Horticulture Minister RK Theko, Health Minister Dr Chaltonlien Amo, Agriculture Minister K Ranjit, Labour Minister Z Mangaibou and MoS for Forest and Environment Minister N Biren.

To a question why the Congress has decided to field its own candidate in the Outer, though the AICC high command and the NCP leader Sharad Pawar had worked out a seat sharing arrangement, Rishang Keishing replied that the NCP is practically non existent in Manipur.

A few days back, Holkhomang Haokip had declared that he was the anointed consensus candidate of the Congress and the NCP.

Speaking further, Keishing said that just because some office bearers of the NCP have been nominated it does not mean that the party is fully functioning here.

If only the NCP were a full fledged party, then the Congress would not have opposed nominating the NCP candidate as the consensus candidate, said Rishang and added that for all practical purposes, the NCP does not exist in Manipur, at least for the time being.

To another question, Rishang admitted that neither Sonia Gandhi nor the AICC leadership have given their nod to nominate Ngajokpa in the Outer.

However the MPCC (I) will try its best to convince the AICC leadership, said Rishang and added that he was confident that the AICC high command would agree to the fielding to Francis Ngajokpa.

Mention may be made here that when the AICC announced the list of candidate for Manipur, Francis' name did not figure in the list.

Only the name of Dr T Meinya was announced for the Inner seat.

Nine candidates have filed their nomination papers for the Outer.

They are, Francis Ngajokpa (INC), Loli Adanee (BJP), Holkhomang Haokip (NCP), Kim Gangte (MPP), Valley Rose Hungyo (NNP), Rosangzuala (JD U), Morung Makunga (NTCP), Mani Cheranamei (Ind) and Thangkhogin (RSP).