Imphal, March 29 2009: With Prof N Mohendro throwing in the towel in the electoral arena, the MPP, which had previously nominated him, has now named former Union Minister of State for YAS, Th Chaoba as the MPP�s choice for the Inner seat which will go to the polls on April 22. With the change in the choice of the candidate the prospect of the MPP has increased, quipped O Joy while talking to reporters today.

Announcing the official choice of the MPP, its legislative wing leader O Joy today informed the media that Chaoba will contest the election from the Inner seat as the consensus candidate of four political parties.

Following the withdrawal of Prof N Mohendro from the election race, the Core Committee of the MPP which met yesterday had recommended the name of Th Chaoba, said the MPP leader.

The Working Committee of the MPP which met today endorsed the recommendation of the Core Committee, said Joy and added that accordingly Th Chaoba has been chosen as its candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.

The Election Committee of the party has also given its nod to the name of Chaoba.

To queries on the change of candidate, Joy said that the change has come about taking into consideration the changing political scenario.

Asserting that there are a number of priorities to be tackled with including the law and order situation in the State as well as the rising graph of killing and abductions, Joy said that the top priority is protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Taking into consideration the fact that Outer MP Mani Charenamei, who openly spoke against the territorial integrity of Manipur in Parliament is still in the fray while the Congress has again decided to field Dr T Meinya who did not utter a word, when Charenamei spoke against the interest of the State, prompted the MPP to go in for a man who will be a sure shot bet at the hustings, Joy claimed.

The MPP decided to go in for Th Chaoba to ensure the defeat of Dr T Meinya, Joy asserted and added that Prof N Mohendro has also agreed with the decision of the party.

Going on the offensive against the SPF Government, the veteran MPP leader said that the Congress and the CPI should be held responsible for the all round decay that besets Manipur today.

No efforts will be spared to defeat the Congress and the CPI and ensure the success of the MPP candidate, declared O Joy and declared that they are ready to face the muscle power, money power and Government machineries which may be used by the Congress and the CPI.

Predicting that the MPP will garner the maximum votes in the rural areas, Joy however said that the party may see a dip in the urban areas.

In a confident note Joy said that the vote bank of the MPP will be Bishnupur district which has about 1.5 lakh voters.

The MPP has also conveyed the change in candidate to its allies, the NCP, MSCP and NPP, said Joy and added that to ensure the success of the NCP candidate in the Outer Constituency LB Sona the MPP is doing its best to garner the support of the voters in the seven Assembly segments in Thoubal district.

Later at the end of the one day political conference organised by the Singjamei Kendra of the MPP at Nameirakpam Mandap at Singjamei Chingamathak Ngakrabam Leirak, a resolution was adopted to the effect that the Congress and the CPI should be held responsible for all the daily killings occurring in the State.

The conference also announced that the two parties are boycotted.

Addressing the conference, Th Chaoba announced that he came to know that he has been nominated as the candidate of the MPP in the Inner seat today afternoon.

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