Imphal, May 4: The Manipur PCC today announced its candidates for the autonomous district council elections amid reports of alleged intimidation to Congress members by NSCN (Isak-Muivah) cadres.

The candidates, whose names were announced by PCC president Gaikhangam, will contest 130 of the 144 seats in six autonomous district councils. The candidates include three women.

Each district council has 24 seats. The Congress has nominated 24 candidates each for Churachandpur, Sadar Hills and Ukhrul districts, 22 for Chandel, 20 for Tamenglong and 16 for Senapati.

The Congress's agenda for the elections would be unity and development, Gaikhangam told reporters at Congress Bhawan here.

"The number of candidates in Senapati district is just 16 because of the threats and intimidation by the NSCN (I-M)," Gaikhangam said.

He said many Congress aspirants had left the party and joined the BJP, fearing threats by the NSCN (I-M) cadres but a notable number had turned up to contest the ADC seats, despite the threats.

"This is a good sign for the party," the state Congress president said.

Gaikhangam drew the attention of the Centre to the alleged breaking of ceasefire ground rules by the NSCN (I-M) and its cadres threatening Congress candidates with dire consequences.

The state election commission had issued a notification on April 30 that the ADC lection would be held on June 1.

The notification, issued by commission secretary Th. Chitra Devi, stated that nominations could be filed till May 6, scrutiny would be held on May 7 and the last date of nomination would be May 11. If necessary, re-polling will be held on June 6 and counting will be done on June 10. The entire election process will be completed on June 17.

Altogether 6.88 lakh voters will cast their votes in 1,163 polling stations in the six ADC elections.

Yesterday, the state BJP had announced the names of 130 candidates who would contest the elections - 24 each for Sadar Hills and Ukhrul, 23 for Tamenglong, 21 for Churachandpur and 19 each for Senapati and Chandel district councils. The BJP is yet to announce the names of the remaining 14 candidates.

The JD(U) yesterday also announced the names of five candidates, of whom three will contest in Chandel district and one each in Ukhrul and Sadar Hills.

The Naga Peoples' Front (NPF) also issued tickets yesterday to 78 candidates, including two women, sources said. The tickets were issued at a function held at the NPF central office in Kohima.