New turn to Congress imbroglio ? Ministry reshuffle : Final decision with Sonia, Ibobi
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 05 2016 :
The imbroglio besieging Congress party in the State seems to be taking a new turn after Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has been relieved from the post of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president.
Citing Gaikhangam's endorsement of a written declaration about integration of Naga inhabited areas sometime in the past, the Congress party's 'one man, one post' principle and Chief Minister O Ibobi's assurance for Ministry reshuffle after a gap of two years and a half, a group of Congress MLAs have been demanding removal of Gaikhangam from the post of MPCC president and a major reshuffle of the incumbent Council of Ministers.
Many political pandits are of the view that the post of MPCC president is crucial if the Congress party should still retain power after the next Manipur Legislative Assembly election which is due in 2017 .
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The pressure group has been arguing that keeping Gaikhangam as MPCC president would erode people's faith in the party for he had endorsed a declaration on Naga integration and induction of fresh faces in the Council of Ministers would facilitate election campaign for the party.
Their first demand has been already fulfilled with the replacement of Gaikhangam by TN Haokip as MPCC president.
Since TN Haokip took over as MPCC president on Saturday, many are speculating that the MLAs of the pressure group have taken a new turn.
Some MLAs who are not part of the pressure group have been negotiating with the pressure group to drop their demand for Ministry reshuffle.
However, no one is sure how the turmoil within the Ibobi Government which is fast approaching the end of its term would be resolved.
Meanwhile, one MLA who is a member of the pressure group informed that Chief Minister O Ibobi and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam left for Delhi to discuss the issue of Ministry reshuffle with AICC president Sonia Gandhi.
The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister may hold a meeting with Sonia Gandhi today or tomorrow.
If there must be Ministry reshuffle, Sonia Gandhi and O Ibobi should take the final decision.
The rebel MLAs have been waiting for the final decision eagerly.
On being enquired if the pressure group would accept whatever decision adopted by Sonia Gandhi and Ibobi, the MLA maintained that they cannot say anything at the moment.
Nonetheless, the MLA claimed that fulfilment of one major demand (removal of Gaikhangam from the post of MPCC president) was a major achievement.