The battle for nationalist votes began in earnest today when SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan attacked Sinn Féin's "à la carte approach" to the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Durkan, speaking at the start at his party election campaign, said Sinn Féin could no longer argue for inclusion in the power-sharing Executive while refusing to sign up to new policing arrangements.
He said: "Of course we have Sinn Féin who are very animated in protecting its right to be part of the inclusive arrangements in the Executive but refuses to be part of the equally inclusive arrangements on the policing board".
He also attacked Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble for threatening to block power-sharing arrangements after the election.
"I think he is adopting a negative approach and a wrong approach," said Mr Durkan. "People do have doubts about where other parties stand who are meant to be behind the Agreement."
With speculation intensifying that the governments may put off the Assembly election date until June, the SDLP leader called on Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy to declare it would go ahead as scheduled.
"We need an election on May 29th. There should be no doubt about the fact that we are getting an election," he said.
"The Secretary of State should move to end the nonsensical uncertainty." Mr Durkan said he did not want to be part of the "double act of frustration" performed by Mr Trimble and Mr Adams since the beginning of the Agreement.
"David Trimble has the approach of trying to star in his own stand-up and Gerry Adams is happy to be taking the part of best supporting actor. I want to be part of making the full movie of the Agreement," he added.