Imphal, March 7 : With four Left parties and the Janata Dal (Secular) agreeing to forge an alliance, the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency is set to witness a triangular fight. There will, however, be a multi-cornered contest for the Outer Manipur seat.

After four Opposition parties joined hands to put up common candidates, four Left parties, including the CPI, a partner in the Okram Ibobi Singh-led Secular Progressive Front ministry, reached an “understanding” to form an electoral alliance at a meeting held today.

Leaders of the CPI, CPM, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Forward Bloc and the JD (S) today held the first round of meetings at the CPI office here.

The CPI has four MLAs while the other Left parties and the JD(S) do not have any representation in the Assembly.

On Wednesday, the Manipur Peoples Party and the NCP, with four MLAs each, along with the National Peoples Party (three MLAs) and the Manipur State Congress Party announced common candidates for the two seats.

Former Manipur University professor N. Mohendro Singh was named the common Opposition candidate for the Inner Manipur seat while tribal leader L.B. Sona from Churachandpur district was declared the common candidate for the Outer Manipur constituency.

Former cabinet minister Moirangthem Nara Singh is among the first list of 33 candidates announced by the CPI national council on March 27. He will be contesting from the Inner seat. However, the CPI has decided not to field any candidate in the Outer seat.

In the last parliamentary elections, Nara Singh finished second from the Inner seat. Thokchom Meinya Singh of the Congress is the sitting MP.

“We have discussed the present political scenario in the country. We have an understanding to form an alliance to ensure the success of the CPI candidate,” B. Sharma, former state secretary of the CPI, said after the meeting.

The meeting was attended by two leaders from each party, including health minister Pheiroijam Parijat Singh who is a CPI national executive member. It, however, did not take any decision except an “understanding” for the formation of an alliance.

The parties agreed to hold another round of meetings on March 9 to finalise the alliance.

The Congress is yet to decide on its candidates. Though the CPI decided not to contest the Outer seat, it will not support the Congress in the Outer constituency.

“We have not decided whom we will support. But it is certain that we will not support the Congress. This is because supporting the Congress in the Outer seat while having a friendly fight in the Inner one will confuse voters,” a party leader said.

CPI leader A.B. Bardhan will be reaching Imphal on a two-day visit on March 21 to oversee his party’s poll preparations in the state.