Imphal, January 25: The ugly and confusing scene that unfolded at Ukhrul AC over the ticket allotment of the Congress (I), notwithstanding, Ukhrul district is poised to go in for the first phase polling on February 8 with 11 candidates in the three Assembly Constituencies of Ukhrul, Chingai and Phungyar.

By any calculation the fight is going to be between the Congress candidates and the UNC backed Independent candidates in the three Assembly segments and it is the direct involvement of the UNC, that will provide some "flavour" to the upcoming polls, despite the threat perceptions felt by many.

Ukhrul district is one of more politically active districts in the State, having produced two Chief Ministers in the persons of the late Yangmasho Shaiza and the current Rajya Sabha MP, Rishang Keishing.

The latter is the longest serving CM in the State.

Another interesting feature of the election in this district is the point that the sons of the two former Chief Ministers are in the fray.

Victor Keishing, the son of Rishang Keishing is a first timer and is the INC nominee in Phungyar AC.

Danny Shaiza, son of the late Yangmasho Shaiza has already tasted defeat and success at the hustings, earlier losing to AS Arthur and then beating him in the last election as a BJP candidate.

Significantly, Shaiza is the UNC backed candidate in Ukhrul AC.

Other than AS Arthur of the Congress and Haokhomang Guite of the LJSP, the other two candidates in Ukhrul AC are Independent candidates.

The two Independent candidates are Danny Shaiza and AS Shireiyo.

Chingai AC will see a three way fight with sitting MLA A Aza of the Congress and RV Mingthing of the MSCP contesting the polls as candidates of political parties.

The other, Khasim Ruivah is an Independent and he is being backed by the UNC.

At Phungyar the fight is going to be between Victor Keishing of the INC, Valley Rose Hungyo of the NNP, Tuireishing Longvah, Independent and K Wungnaoshang Keishing, an Independent candidate as well as the sitting MLA.

W Keishing who defeated Rishang Keishing in the last polls, is the UNC's choice in this Constituency.

Ukhrul will go to the polls, with the diktats of the UNC to other candidates to withdraw looming over the voters' head.