Crisis within Congress may deepen after Presidential poll

The news that the internal differences within the Congress party have been settled with the latest expansion of the Ministry may not be correct. There are indications that some major developments may occur after the Presidential poll scheduled for July 19. According to sources, after MPCC president Gaikhangam voluntarily stepped down from the Council of Ministers, AICC leaders had tried to calm him down and even offered the post of Deputy Chief Minister as well as the Home portfolio. However Gaikhangam stuck to his gun and refused to accept the offer from the AICC. The offer was made at New Delhi as well as at Imphal, said the source. The firm stand of Gaikhangam intensified the internal crisis of the Congress. Though the general perception was that Gaikhangam would soften his stand once he is offered the post of Deputy Chief Minister as well as an important portfolio such as Home, things did unfold as expected. On June 18, AICC leader Sanjoy Bhavan during his short visit to the State offered the post of Deputy Chief Minister as well as the Home portfolio. The same offer was made during a joint meeting called by AICC leaders and attended by both Gaikhangam and the Chief Minister at Delhi, said the source and added that the efforts to placate Gaikhangam did not bear fruit. This in effect means that the differences within the State Congress unit still persist, observed the source. On the other hand the decision of Gaikhangam to devote his time to strengthening the party organisation of the MPCC (I) as its president is a blessing for the party as a whole, added the source. Since discipline and loyalty are the keys word for all Congressmen, the decision of Gaikhangam is an explicit demonstration of the point that the party organisation is more important than the CLP, opined the source. The RJD factor, which has made its intention clear that one of its three MLAs, should be inducted in the Council of Ministers is also a serious matter, said the source. At the moment, leaders of the State unit RJD are at Delhi discussing the matter with its National president and Union Railways Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav. The RJD has put up its case on the merit that it is a partner of the UPA Government in the Centre and hence one of its MLAs too should be inducted in the Ministry. If the RJD manages to have its way then the only option left to the Chief Minister would be to drop one of the Congress MLAs who have been named in the Council of Ministers, predicted the source. In case such a situation arises then the Chief Minister may be constrained to drop one of the Ministers from Imphal East, which already has five Ministers in the 12 member Ministry. Either way, the path ahead is certainly going to be rough for the Chief Minister, added the source. The RJD had earlier rejected the post of the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board which is a Cabinet rank. Though AICC general secretary in charge of North East Oscar Fernandes arrived at Imphal today in connection with a program pursued in connection with HIV/AIDS, the fact that Sanjoy Bhavna also accompanied him on the tour is pregnant with meaning for Bhavna is not here in connection with the said program. Adding credence to the speculation is the fact that straight on their arrival today, Fernandes and Bhavna met MPCC (I) president Gaikhangam at Congress Bhawan. K Ranjit, N Biren and TN Haokip were also present at the meeting. Later Chief Minister O Ibobi also arrived at Congress Bhawan and a closed door meeting between the AICC leaders and the CM and Gaikhangam was held, said the source. As the AICC controls the strings of all State unit Congress, the differences brewing within the party may see a few new developments after the Presidential poll slated to be held on July 19.

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