Imphal, March 26: The Opposition DPA today inched closer to finding a consensus choice sans the BJP during a marathon meeting held at the residence of the FPM MLA L Ibomcha from 6 pm till well over past 11 pm.

Though the BJP has already decided to go it alone in the election, in both the two seats, National Secretary of the party and MLA M Bhorot was present at the meeting from the beginning till the end to chalk out a consensus formula.

In sync with the efforts to chalk out a consensus formula, the DPA has decided to do away with the Search Committee constituted earlier and the task has now been handed over to the Ticket Committee which comprises of six members with FPM MLA L Ibomcha as the convenor.

The other members of the Committee are Udoy Thongam of the DRPP, MLA Natum of the MNC, O Joy of the MPP etc.

The meeting will be carried forward tomorrow to finalize the names of the consensus candidates in both the two Parliamentary seats of Manipur.

A very reliable source informed The Sangai Express that the issue of zeroing in on a consensus candidate is most likely to be finalized tomorrow, when the meeting which concluded today, without a definite decision would carry on from tomorrow at 8 in the morning.

Today's meeting of the Opposition was participated by all the constituent members, with even the BJP participating.

Sources claimed that this was the first full strength meeting of the Opposition in connection with the election.

Despite the BJP deciding to go ahead alone in the polls, the MPP and the FPM had been trying to work out a consensus formula for long.

The MPP had announced that it was keen on fielding its MLA, Dr Nimaichand Luwang as the consensus candidate while the FPM which is the biggest party in the Opposition, had been floating the name of Dr L Chandramani.