With just two days left for the Northeastern state of Manipur to go to polls, here’s a quick guide to know more about the prominent faces of the state assembly elections. With the term of current Legislative Assembly ending on March 18, the state will go to polls in two phases – on March 4 and March 8 and the results will be declared on March 11.

Manipur currently has a Congress government with O Ibobi Singh as its chief minister. The upcoming assembly poll is likely to witness a close fight between the ruling Congress confident of a fourth term on the trot and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) determined to wrest power. The BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wave.

Prominent faces

1. Okram Ibobi Singh: The most prominent face of the forthcoming Manipur polls is 68-year-old Okram Ibobi Singh. Singh, belonging to Congress party has been the chief minister since 2002. Pitted against PRJA chief and activist Irom Sharmila, he is contesting from Thoubal constituency.

2. Irom Sharmila: Taking the challenges to weed off corruption and repeal Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), Iron Lady Irom Sharmila is all set to fight against incumbent Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh. Sharmila, who ended her 16 years' fast against AFSPA on August 9, 2016, announced her party — People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance — in October 2016. Sharmila will be contesting from two constituencies – Khurai and Thoubal.

3. Th Chaoba Singh: Thounaojam Chaoba Singh is a former union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party state president in Manipur. He became the deputy chief minister of Manipur in 1994. He was elected the state Congress party president in 1997. Chaoba Singh is contesting from Nambol constituency.

4. Gaikhangam: Gaikhangam, 62, is the current deputy chief minister and a senior leader of the ruling Congress. Gaikhangam, also the state home minister, has been winning from Nungba (ST) constituency since 1980. He is the longest reigning president of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee. He was replaced by TN Haopkip in 2016.

5. N Biren Singh: Vice president of the state unit of Congress, Nongthombam Biren Singh resigned from the Manipur Assembly and primary membership of the party in October, 2016 over differences with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. He was elected to the state legislative assembly in 2002. He is contesting as a BJP candidate from Heingang Assembly Constituency.

6. TN Haokip: Telsing Ngamjang Haokip represents Saikot Assembly constituency in Churachandpur district. He was appointed president of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee in March 2016 to replace Deputy CM Gaikhangam.

7. Y Irabot Singh: A 77-year-old Congress veteran Yumkham Irabot Singh from Wangkhei Assembly Constituency, left the Congress party in September 2016 and joined the BJP. Irabot has been elected four times since 1981.

8. Kh Joykishan: Kh Joykisan was elected in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election on All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) ticket. Disqualified from being an MLA, he joined the BJP and was re-elected in the Thangmeiband Assembly constituency in the by- election. Joykisan again resigned from primary membership of the BJP and joined the Congress party in December, 2016.

9. Phungzathang Tonsing: Despite being given a ticket, Phungzathang resigned from the Congress on February 10, 2017 and joined the National People's Party (NPP). Tonsing is contesting from Churachandpur constituency. A former president of the MPCC, Tonsing has been a minister in the Congress regime for more than 20 years.

10. Francis Ngajokpa: A BJP candidate, Francis Ngajokpa is contesting from Tadubi constituency in Mao. Ngajokpa resigned from the ruling Congress on October 13, 2016 following demands of the electorate of which he represents.