Imphal, Jan 13: Over 290 candidates are in the fray for the Manipur Assembly elections scheduled on January 28, election office said today.
Scrutiny of nomination papers was completed yesterday and 291 of them were found valid after rejecting others.
Withdrawal of nomination has been fixed for tomorrow and the exact number of candidates who would remain in the poll fight would be known tomorrow evening if reports from concerned returning officers are received by then, the sources said.
Two candidates - Y Mangi of Manipur People's Party (MPP) who has entered the contest for Heingang constituency in Imphal east district and independent candidate Itomba Singh for Keirao seat in Imphal east district would contest the polls from jail.
The two had been arrested for alleged links with militants.
Election office said there would be 2357 polling stations in the state and except 160 of them the rest has been declared hyper-sensitive and sensitive. Manipur has a 60-member Assembly.
Of the 350 companies (comprising approximately 3500 personnel) of security personnel, including 280 companies of para military forces, to be deployed in the insurgency-hit state 127 companies have already arrived. The rest would be sent from the neighbouring states.
Besides, Manipur state armed police and other forces would also be deployed, official sources said.
Besides eight political parties recognised by the Election Commission of India including Congress, NCP, BJP, JD(U), Trinamool Congress and others, other smaller parties and independents would contest the forthcoming polls.
