Imphal, January 22: Two key functionaries of the MPP who deserted the party and joined Samajwadi Party were granted tickets to contest the ensuing elections.

Former general secretary of MPP Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency Moirangthem Sharat and Maibam Bijoy, who was the Youth secretary of MPP have been given SP tickets, informed State unit Samajwadi Party president Sapam Dhananjoy.

Counting the two, SP has so far named 17 candidates for the ensuing elections, Dhananjoy said while speaking to reporters at the private residence of former Lok Sabha MP Holkhomang Haokip today afternoon.

Disclosing that some prospective candidates who have left MPP may join SP very soon, Dhananjoy said that the third list of SP candidates would be announced within the next couple of days.

SP, which is also a key partner of the recently constituted 'third front', has been working to field 30 candidates of its own, he said.

Taking note of the similarity in the symbols of SP and MPP, both of which use cycle as their symbols, the Election Commission has allotted aeroplane as symbol to SP for the ensuing Assembly elections, Dhananjoy conveyed.

Asserting that various political parties have been defying the EC's model code of conduct in terms of putting up flags and sticking posters, particularly in Imphal East areas, the former Speaker urged the EC and the respective ROs to look into the matter and take up actions accordingly.

The party has also written to the ROs in this regard to ensure that the forthcoming polls are conducted in a free and fair manner.

The 'third front' would finalise the number of candidates it would put in the ensuing elections very soon, he added.