Imphal, April 04 2009: With former Union Minister Th Chaoba of MPP, the consensus candidate of the Manipur Democratic Alliance (MDA) filing his nomination paper today, seven candidates including a female candidate are all set to contest in the 15th Lok Sabha elections for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency on April 22 .

The MDA is formed jointly by Manipur People's Party (MPP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and National People's Party (NPP) .

Th Chaoba today submitted his nomination papers to the Returning Officer (RO), A Ibocha, Deputy Commissioner of Imphal West.

Today is the last day of filing nomination papers for Inner seat.

The candidates who have filed nomination papers till the last day are sitting MP, Dr Th Meinya of Congress, former Chief Minister of Manipur, W Nipamacha of BJP, lone woman candidate L Khetrani of Rashtriya Bahujan Congress Party (RBCP), Dr M Nara of CPI, A Rahman, Retd IGP and N Homendro as Independent and Th Chaoba of MPP.

The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on April 6.The last day for withdrawal of nomination papers is April 8 .

After submitting his nomination papers to the RO, Th Chaoba told media persons that since his party has a firm determination to remove the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, if he is elected, he would do everything possible to get it removed, and if he fails to do so, he will resign from being MP.

If the people send him as MP to the parliament, the first thing he would do is to bring development and usher in peace in the state, Chaoba said.

He further told the mediapersons that one of his priorities is to provide the people living below the poverty line a means to live.

The MPP has always been standing for a united Manipur and its territorial integrity.

Therefore, to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur is his essential duty, Chaoba said.

Regarding the recovery of bombs one after another from highly secured areas in the heart of Imphal city, Chaoba said, these are happening because of the weakness of the government.

No conflict can ever be solved without a negotiated settlement, he said.

He further urged not to boycott the election based on a particular issue.

One must vote candidate of his/her choice while appealing to cast their vote at least.

He said that by not exercising the democratic right, candidate not of the people's choice may be elected.

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