Ibobi’s fate hangs in balance

With the Congress high command still undecided about change in leadership, Manipur has plunged in to political uncertainty. The move to oust Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has entered a crucial phase as the Chief Minister himself proposing Elangbam Kunjeshore as his replacement.

Literally throwing in the towel, Chief Minister O Ibobi reportedly submitted a proposal to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prithiviraj Chauhan to appoint Kunjeshore as his successor.

However the move of the Chief Minister is unlikely to appease the dissident MLAs as they have already projected Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Th Debendra as the man to replace Ibobi.

It is however still unclear whether the Chief Minister will be replaced or who will replace him, as the matter lies with the AICC high command.

Some of the dissident MLAs who are still camping at Delhi, said that Chief Minister O Ibobi was closeted with Prithiviraj Chauhan. A prominent member of the dissident camp said that the proposal of the Chief Minister was conveyed to them by Chauhan himself.

Giving details of what transpired during the meeting between Ibobi and Chauhan, the dissident Congress MLA disclosed that at first, the Chief Minister urged the AICC North East in-charge to let him continue as the CM with some changes in the Council of Ministers. Quoting Chauhan, the dissident MLA said that Ibobi was told in no uncertain terms, “It is too late.

Moreover the unfair means used earlier has come to the knowledge of the AICC high command”. Adding to the urgency of the matter is the point that Th Debendra, who is being projected as the dissidents’ choice, has been summoned to Delhi on January 27. A final decision on the change of leadership is therefore likely to be taken by January 28, said the dissident MLA.

Against the latest political development, Chief Minister O Ibobi convened a meeting with the Congress Ministers and MLAs who are loyal to him. During the course of the meeting at Delhi, Chauhan is reported to have made it clear that the removal of O Ibobi was at hand because of the revolt raised by some Congress MLAs, claimed the dissidents and added that the Chief Minister was given the grace of naming an MLA who he would like to succeed him.

Faced with no other choice, the Chief Minister then proposed the name of Yaiskul MLA and close confidante E Kunjeshore as his choice, said the rebel MLAs.

Clearly making their stand known against the proposal of the Chief Minister, the dissident MLAs recalled that Chauhan had come to Imphal and personally met all the Congress legislators, MPs and party functionaries over the internal turmoil of the CLP. Even in Delhi the opinion of the Congress MLAs was sought, they reminded. The dissident MLAs stressed that they have been camping at Delhi for over two months even at the cost of neglecting their respective constituencies and in the backdrop of the enormous efforts made, they would not settle for anyone proposed by O Ibobi. The one line resolution adopted by the dissident MLAs to propose Th Debendra as the Chief Minister still stands, they asserted. “The very fact that O Ibobi has proposed the name of E Kunjeshore to replace is damning proof that the Chief Minister has realised that his days are numbered,” said the dissident MLAs. “This is something satisfying,” they asserted.

The dissident MLAs are still in constant touch with Chauhan, they said and claimed that out of the 31 Congress MLAs in the State Assembly, 19 are still with the rebels and they have not flinched from their decision to project Th Debendra as the next Chief Minister.

Elated with the developments, the dissidents said that a new Chief Minister will be in place before the Budget session gets underway. A change in leadership is expected soon as the dissident MLAs had submitted an ultimatum to the AICC high command to settle the matter by January 22, said the dissident MLAs further. If the stand of the dissidents is not respected then the possibility of floating a new political party cannot be ruled, they threatened in a veiled tone. The MPCC president Gaikhangam as well as the vice president of the party T Mangibabu who will issue the whip for the Congress MLAs for the Budget session are eyeing the political scenario seriously.

Opposition citicises Congress

Launching a scathing attack on the alleged failure of the AICC to resolve the almost two months long leadership crisis within the State Congress Legislature Party, leader of the Opposition group and president of the State Nationalist Congress Party Radhabinod Koijam has stated that the crisis has worsened the law and order situation bringing the administration to the brink of collapse. Radhabinod said that so far the leadership crisis within the Congress Legislature Party is being viewed as the private affair of the Congress party.

However, the failure of the AICC to resolve the issue till date has shown that the Congress party does not respect Manipur and does not mind neglecting the welfare of its people. Decrying the attitude of some Ministers who are trying to take advantage of the ongoing campaign of the dissident MLAs to oust Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Radhabinod observed that these Ministers should give up their posts if they really support the dissident group. Charging the Congress party with not making any sincere attempts to bring about better governance in the State, the Opposition leader pointed out that it is due to lack of co-ordination within the different arms of the Government in taking up developmental work that Imphal city is in a mess today.

The hike of just 20 percent in the State plan allocation has shown that the Government is a total failure and  it would not be able to carry out any developmental work properly, he said. Inspite of the huge amount of fund provided by the UPA Government at the Centre, the same has been siphoned off though   Akash bills thus leading to a situation where the utilisation certificates could not be submitted in time and the quality of the work controlled. If the manner of executing the work by the Government in the capital Imphal city itself is not to the satisfaction of the people, then the situation prevailing in far flung and remote hill areas of the State can be easily understood, the Opposition leader said. On the issue of law and order, Radhabinod said inspite of completing one year in power, the SPF Government seems to have given up its hand on the law and order which is in its worst state now.

Demanding a white paper on the strategies that have been worked out by the Government to improve the law and order situation in the State so far, if there is any, Radhabinod asserted that not even a single criminal case has been investigated and solved properly.

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