Imphal, March 23 2009: AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are likely to join the party's campaign for the coming Lok Sabha polls for Th Meinya Singh and Thangso Baite in the Inner and Outer Parliamentary seats respectively.

Putting to an end to all varied speculations, the AICC on Sunday evening recommended sitting MP Meinya and former minister Thangso Biate as its candidates in the Inner and Outer Manipur parliamentary constituencies respectively.

With this announcement, the ruling Congress is all prepared to roll out its campaign for the duo amid rebels sporadic attacks on the party workers across the four valley districts.

To join the campaign AICC president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, who is also the general secretary of the party will come down to the state, said MPCC's media cell chairman Seram Mangi on Monday.

"As intimated by the party's central leaders, Rahul Gandhi will probably visit the state in April first week, while madam Sonia will arrive before April 20," Mangi said adding that the party leaders will , however, decide the exact dates of the motherson arrivals.

"Tomorrow a meeting of the Congress legislature party will be convened at Imphal to discuss poll strategies," he said adding that another meeting of party's block and district level leaders and workers will also be held in no time.

Since the people have their confidence with the Congress because of the large scale developments projects taken up in the state by it under the flagship of the UPA government, the party has a strong belief of winning both seats, Mangi speculated.

The Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency covering the five hill districts of Senapati, Chandel, Chruachandpur, Ukhrul and Tamenglong and parts of valley Thoubal and Imphal East districts will go to the polls on April 16, while the Inner Manipur constituency will vote on April 22. With the naming of the two Congress nominees � sitting Lok Sabha MP Meinya from Konthoujam in Imphal west and former minister Baite from Churachandpur, the number of candidates so far recommended by their respective parties has reached to four in Inner Manipur Parliamentary seat and three in Outer Manipur seat.

CPI poll campaign : The election campaign of Dr Nara Singh, who has been named as the candidate of the CPI for 15th Lok Sabha election from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency will be formally inaugurated by the National general secretary of the party AB Bardhan on March 25. Addressing a press conference in this connection at Irabot Bhavan here today, secretary of CPI Manipur State Council Langol Iboyaima hailed Dr Nara as the most suitable person to be elected as the representative of the people.

The election campaign of Dr Nara, who has been chosen as the common candidate by the Left and Democratic Co-Ordination Committee of the AIFB, CPI, CPI (M), JD (S) and RSP would be formally inaugurated by National general secretary of CPI AB Bardhan on March 25 along with a befitting function at Raising Athletic Union (RAU) ground, Iboyaima informed.

If the Left parties come to power after the 15th Lok Sabha election, then special attention would be paid to the problem of education, unemployment, rising prices of essential commodities, improvement of Public Distribution System and health care apart from protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur, Iboyaima assured, adding that efforts would also be made for repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

CPI veteran Sotin who was also present during the press conference observed that inaugurating the election campaign of CPI on March 25 is just a formality and the preparation for fighting the election have already been made well in advance.

Positive response from the Muslim community of Manipur on supporting Dr Nara has also been received.

So the success of Dr Nara in the election is almost a foregone conclusion, he claimed exuding confidence.

Other leaders of CPI Manipur State Council, CPI (M), RSP, AIFB and JD (S), Manipur unit were also present at the occasion.

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