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| Major Events Vol. 3 Issue No. 19 | February 1 -15, 2007 |
Heavyweights join Manipur poll campaign To join the onging campaign for the ninth Manipur Legislative Assembly election scheduled to be held in three phases from February 8, a number of prominent political leaders belonging to various parties have arrived in the State. Political circles claim that in the coming days more renowned leaders will also join. Congress has lined up a veritable galaxy of Central leaders to hit the campaign trail prior to the forthcoming Assembly elections. They include Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, INC chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, among others. BJP national president Rajnath Singh is scheduled to arrive here on February 2 to join the poll campaign. In addition, the party’s vice president Venkaiah Naidu too will address pre-election rallies. Rajnath is scheduled to address four election meetings in Imphal on February 2 before his departure the following day. Naidu on the other hand will arrive Imphal on February 6 and during his two-day stint will address election rallies at Saitu, Mayang Imphal and Wangoi. Another informed source said the proposed visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on February 1 has been postponed. Earlier, he was scheduled to address election meetings at Kakching and Bishnupur. Significantly, the state’s Home Department has received no intimation from the Central authorities so far about any proposed visit by the Prime Minister. Such intimation well ahead of time is a pre-requisite so as to enable the state authorities to make appropriate security arrangements. In the meantime, sources disclosed that INC chief Sonia Gandhi will arrive in the state on February 4, during which she will address election meetings at Thoubal and Imphal. She is scheduled to visit the state again on February 11 for campaigning in connection with the third phase of elections. It is planned for her to address election meetings at Khoupum, in Tamenglong district, and at Churachandpur, the sources added. In addition, the pradesh campaign committee of the MPCC has also requested for several other Central leaders to visit the state to participate in its election campaign. Though the Congress has fielded not less than 60 candidates, the BJP has so far only 13 candidates in the fray. The saffron party is contemplating to field another two candidates from the Assembly constituencies of the hill districts, according to sources. | Headlines | Editorial | Coverstory | | Travel Column | News Briefs | | OT Main Page | |
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