Imphal, October 28 2009: The BJP State unit is informed to be left with the option of either nominating former Chief Minister RK Dorendra Singh or his son RK Suraj to contest the forthcoming by-election to the Yaiskul Assembly Constituency.

Even though the Opposition political parties had been mooting to field a consensus candidate for the by-election necessitated by the untimely demise of Congress legislator Elangbam Kunjeshore, a source in the BJP Manipur Pradesh disclosed that the choice has narrowed down to either the former CM or his politically groomed son Suraj.

However, the MPP is yet to spell out its decision on whom to put up or extend support despite its assertions that opposition political parties have a common agenda to defeat Congress nominee in the by-poll.

A prominent BJP State unit leader speaking on condition of anonymity said 'our party and the MPP have almost agreed to field a common candidate from our side but it is too early to name the person'.

the BJP leader not ruling out possibility of either the veteran politician RK Dorendra or his son getting the party's nod to contest the by-poll is seemed to be in favour of the MPP too as the regional political party's president Dr Nimaichand Luwang confided that series of talks held with BJP leaders had come to the point that it might be the choice of the BJP which the MPP would also lend support.

"We have conducted a series of meetings with the BJP and an understanding has been reached to field a common candidate from their (BJP's) side.

But a final decision to this effect is yet to be taken," the MPP chief said.

The former legislator also said, "Since our Party has authorised me to talk to other opposition political parties and settle the common candidate issue, I have also intimated leaders of the State NCP and an understanding has also been brought about with them in the same issue".

Asserting that focus of the opposition would be on the current situation prevailing in the aftermath of the July 23 BT Road firing, he confided that election campaign by the opposition would also expose alleged misgovernance of the SPF Government and fake encounter killings.

Meanwhile, the CPI, which a coalition partner of the SPF Government is also yet to decide on whether or not it would field its own candidate with the party's Senior Secretariat Member B Sharma conceding that CPI would hold a meeting on the matter at an appropriate time.

The ruling Congress is also undecided on whom to field for the by-poll even though speculations are rife that a son of the deceased Kunjeshore might be in the fray.

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