Imphal, March 02 2009: With the dates of elections announced by the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi today, political parties in Manipur are all agog busying themselves in running from party to party to find possible political pals to jointly fight their rivals in the ensuing elections.

In an unprecedented move in the history of political alliance in Manipur, two national political parties including one left party have signed a pre-poll pact with three regional parties.

The unusual alliance is formed by Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), National People's Party (NPP), Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Manipur People's Party (MPP).

The official announcement is expected to be made on March 4 at a joint press conference to be held at the office of MPP.

On the other hand, LB Sona has been nominated as the candidate of NCP for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency.

According to an understanding earlier arrived at between the leaders of the two parties, MPP will support the NCP's candidate for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary seat while the NCP will support the MPP's candidate for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary seat.

LB Sona's name as the candidate of NCP for Outer seat was cleared by the election committee of the party during a meeting held at the office of NCP at 4 pm today.

President of NCP, Manipur unit Radhabinod Koijam presided over the meeting.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) held at the official quarter of MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing yesterday has begun process for selection and announcement of its candidate for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary seat.

The name of the candidate is likely to be announced in a week's time, according to highly informed sources.

Four eminent political figures of the hills are aspiring to be the candidate for the Outer seat.

They are ex-MLA BD Behring, Loli Adani, who was the BJP candidate in the 14th Lok Sabha elections, sitting MP Manicharanamei and Koiton.

In another development in the Congress party, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and president of MPCC Gaikhangam will be leaving Imphal for New Delhi tomorrow to meet the AICC leaders in connection with the selection of candidates for the two seats of Manipur.

Meanwhile, the two national secretaries of Congress who arrived in Imphal yesterday left for New Delhi today.

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