Imphal, January 08: Close on the heel of Manipur People's Party (MPP) drawing up its list of candidates for the six Assembly segments of Thoubal district which go to the polls for the first phase on February 8, the BJP and other National parties are also all set to announce their recommended candidates within the next couple of days.

When interviewed by The Sangai Express, BJP in-charge of North East V Satish said the party's State Unit Election Committee, which is currently studying its aspiring candidates, is preparing to dispatch the final list on January 10 to the Central Election Committee at New Delhi and the latter, after studying the list, would release the names of the recommended candidates for contesting in the first phase election to the State unit probably on the same day.

If the Central Election Committee comprising the party's National president Rajnath Singh, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee among others, fail to finalize the list on January 10, the list will be definitely announced the next day, he assured.

The number of candidates to be announced for the first phase of the election would be around ten and they would be drawn from both the hills and the valley, he said ,adding that the remaining candidates would be announced subsequently.

Though the BJP leader declined to spell the exact number of candidates to be fielded for the three-phase polls, he quipped, "We will field the appropriate number." Commenting on the party's election manifesto, he informed it would be out in the first week of February.

Besides the common issues of the State like the demand for repealing of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur etc, the party would put forward a vision document for Manipur, Satish disclosed.

"BJP is 100 percent committed to the aspiration of the people to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur and Northeast States", he said, adding the party would fight against any move to alter the existing boundaries of the region.

BJP would also release a charge sheet on the misgovernance of the Congress led Secular Progressive Front's Ministry in Manipur, he added.

Responding a query, the BJP leader iterated that barring the Congress and the Communist, BJP is always ready for alliance with other like minded political parties.

He further informed that party president Rajnath Singh among others Central leaders including Sushma Swaraj a would be coming to Manipur for election campaign of the party in February first week On the other hand, with hectic discussion on to bring out a final list of its candidates by its Election Committee, Congress party is likely to announce its candidates probably on Friday.

A preliminary meeting of the Election committee was convened at its office here this afternoon, a highly placed source in the committee informed.

The final recommendation, would, however be made on January 12 after consulting with the AICC leaders, the source added.

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