Imphal, April 13 2009: The campaign for the first phase poll of the no.2 Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency will come to an end tomorrow (April 14) at 4 pm even as Congress Supremo, Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohon Singh are scheduled to visit the state in connection with the election campaign for Congress for the second phase poll.

Meanwhile, polling personnel of the polling stations located in the interior areas of the hill districts included in the Outer constituency have started leaving for their respective polling stations since yesterday.

The state election authority has arranged for airlifting of EVMs for at least 117 polling stations using three helicopters.

A statement of the stat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) today informed that the campaign period to the current general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha elections, 2009 for the first phase poll of no.2-Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency scheduled to be held on 16th April, 2009, is coming to an end by 4 pm April 14 .

The statement while informing the same informed the general public, contesting candidates, election agents, political parties and their workers to comply with the model code of conduct of election asking political functionaries/party workers of any political party, procession functionaries, campaign functionaries or group brought from outside the constituency including those who are not the voters of the constituency to leave the constituency immediately after the conclusion of campaign period.

Mention may be made that nine candidates including two women are in the fray in the Outer seat.

The candidates are LB Sona of NCP, Thangso Baite of Congress, Loli Adanee of BJP, M Yamkhongam Haokip of RJD, Thangkhagin of Lok Janshakti Party, Mani Charenamei of People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) and Valley Rose Hungyo, Rose Mangsi Haokip and Lamlalmoi Gangte who filed their nomination papers as Independent candidates.

On the other hand, for taking part in the election campaign for the Congress nominee, Dr T Meinya in the Inner seat from Manipur which will be held on April 22, many leaders of the party including Congress Supremo Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister, Manmohon Singh are coming to the state.

State election authority has been informed of their visit in the state by the Election Commission of India, an official source here said today.

The state CEO office has received a list of 40 Congress leaders who will campaign for T Meinya, Apart from Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohon Singh, the list includes Chief Minister, O Ibobi and leaders of the MPCC.

But the exact date on which Sonia and Manmohon or any other included in the list will be arriving are not mentioned apart from not exactly known to their visit to the state.

Other leaders includes AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Priyangka Gandhi, MPs and Congress Working Committee members like the Oscar Fernandes, Phelirio (in-charge NE), Union minister Manishanker Aiyer and AICC campaign coordinator Jairam Ramesh and Ved Prakash, Islam Kidwai chairman, minority department of the party and AICC general secretary Ranji Thomas.

Meanwhile, the state election authority has also appointed micro observers and also sectoral magistrate for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the elections.

The polling personnel deputed to the far off corners of the interior hill districts have started leaving district headquarters who to take at least two to three days in reaching the polling stations have left today from their respective districts headquarters today.

Many of the polling personnel with the security personnel are to track on foot to reach their place of polling stations.

Some of them need to track two to three days to reach the place from the last jeepable place.

EVMs for at least 117 polling stations located in the interior hill districts will be airlift by helicopter.

State election authorities have identified 17 helipads for use on the polling day.

Out of the 17 helipads 10 are in Churachandpur district, two each at Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul while one at Senapati.

Three helicopters will be utilized on the poll day to airlift the EVMs, the official said.

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