Oust Ibobi campaign
Chauhan likely to visit Imphal on Sunday; ‘rebels’ to return home:
Imphal, Dec 6: The campaign to replace Okram Ibobi as chief minister by the rebel Congress MLAs who are now camping in New Delhi continues unabated despite the unexpected turn of events in which 10 opposition MLAs including the six sponsored by United Naga Council, UNC, professedly coming out in support of the chief minister.
The rebels have in fact, seemingly succeeded in advancing another pawn on the political chessboard, predicted to cause another serious threat to the chief minister`s defence.
At 11.15am this morning (Thursday), the man projected as a possible replacement for Ibobi, Th Debendra, met the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at his office room at the Parliament House. Although the details of what transpired are not known, the meeting presumably had to do with the campaign to remove Ibobi as Congress Legislature Party, CLP leader.
Interestingly, the rebel MLAs also met with the PM at 3.30pm again in his room in the Parliament House. Mayang Imphal legislator, Kh Ratan who was among those who met the PM said the latter gave them a patient hearing, claiming that the indications were encouraging for them, although the PM said nothing categorically on the fate of the Ibobi government.
Sources also said Lok Sabha MP from the Inner Manipur constituency, Dr T Meinya, was instrumental in arranging the second meeting.
Promising further intensification of the political drama in the state, the AICC secretary in charge of Manipur, Prithvi Raj Chauhan indicated he may come to the state on Sunday.
One day ahead of his possible visit, the rebel MLAs now camping in New Delhi would also be returning to the state on Saturday.
It may be recalled that the ongoing Parliament session is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
While it is uncertain what the ultimate outcome of the tussle would be, the rebels now claiming 18 physically present in their camp, and two more likely to join in soon, are confident they cannot but succeed.
The Congress commands an absolute majority in the state Assembly with 31 legislators, and if the claims of the rebels are true, they do command a comfortable majority in the CLP.
Under the circumstance, observers are of the opinion that they do have a very strong lever to influence even central Congress leadership to oblige their demand. "Even if they decide in desperation that they would leave the Congress and form another party, their act would not attract the anti-defection law" the observers said.
Ahead of some crucial Assembly elections early next year, this would be a consequence the Congress would want to avoid under any circumstance, they added.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, Dec 6: The campaign to replace Okram Ibobi as chief minister by the rebel Congress MLAs who are now camping in New Delhi continues unabated despite the unexpected turn of events in which 10 opposition MLAs including the six sponsored by United Naga Council, UNC, professedly coming out in support of the chief minister.
The rebels have in fact, seemingly succeeded in advancing another pawn on the political chessboard, predicted to cause another serious threat to the chief minister`s defence.
At 11.15am this morning (Thursday), the man projected as a possible replacement for Ibobi, Th Debendra, met the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at his office room at the Parliament House. Although the details of what transpired are not known, the meeting presumably had to do with the campaign to remove Ibobi as Congress Legislature Party, CLP leader.
Interestingly, the rebel MLAs also met with the PM at 3.30pm again in his room in the Parliament House. Mayang Imphal legislator, Kh Ratan who was among those who met the PM said the latter gave them a patient hearing, claiming that the indications were encouraging for them, although the PM said nothing categorically on the fate of the Ibobi government.
Sources also said Lok Sabha MP from the Inner Manipur constituency, Dr T Meinya, was instrumental in arranging the second meeting.
Promising further intensification of the political drama in the state, the AICC secretary in charge of Manipur, Prithvi Raj Chauhan indicated he may come to the state on Sunday.
One day ahead of his possible visit, the rebel MLAs now camping in New Delhi would also be returning to the state on Saturday.
It may be recalled that the ongoing Parliament session is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
While it is uncertain what the ultimate outcome of the tussle would be, the rebels now claiming 18 physically present in their camp, and two more likely to join in soon, are confident they cannot but succeed.
The Congress commands an absolute majority in the state Assembly with 31 legislators, and if the claims of the rebels are true, they do command a comfortable majority in the CLP.
Under the circumstance, observers are of the opinion that they do have a very strong lever to influence even central Congress leadership to oblige their demand. "Even if they decide in desperation that they would leave the Congress and form another party, their act would not attract the anti-defection law" the observers said.
Ahead of some crucial Assembly elections early next year, this would be a consequence the Congress would want to avoid under any circumstance, they added.
Source: The Imphal Free Press