Imphal, January 30: With the count down to the three-phased election to the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly underway, a host of Central leaders including AICC president Sonia Gandhi, BJP National president Rajnath Singh and RJD president and Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav are set to land at Imphal in the first week of February to campaign for their respective parties.

Interestingly the RJD and INC are coalition partners at New Delhi.

Sonia Gandhi is expected to arrive at Imphal on a one-day visit on February 5 while Lalu Prasad Yadav will follow suit the following day.

Gandhi is expected to address election meetings at Imphal as well as at Thoubal before her departure on the same day, according to sources at the Congress Bhawan here.

Sources ruled out the possibility of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh coming for the election campaign contrary to earlier speculations.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Oscar Fernandes will be arriving at Imphal tomorrow and he is set to the attend flag hoisting ceremonies of Congress candidates at Thangmeiband, Uripok, Kshetrigao, Langthabal and Moirang apart from addressing election meetings, the sources disclosed.

On the other hand, sources from State BJP unit informed that party�s National president Rajnath Singh and vice president MP Venkaiah Naidu will also arrive at Imphal on a two-day visit.

According to the sources, Rajnath is expected to arrive on February 2 and he would address election meetings of the party to be held at Thangmeiband and Wangkhei Assembly Constituencies.

On the following the day, he is scheduled to address a similar meeting at Uripok and later meet the press before leaving for Guwahati.

Vice president Venkaiah Naidu will arrive at Imphal on February 6 and on the same day, he will visit Saitu Assembly Constituency to address an election meeting of the party there and on the following day he will address meetings at Mayang Imphal and Wangoi, the sources further said.

RJD president and Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Imphal on February 5 to campaign for his party candidates, sources informed.