Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 11, 2010:
Observer for the MPCC presidential election in the state, Sanjay Palika who arrived in Imphal today, called on the Chief Minister, O Ibobi and incumbent president Gaikhangam as soon as he arrived.
A member of the Central Election Committee of the All India Congress Committee, Sanjay Palika arrived in Imphal by a Kingfisher flight at 1.30 pm today.
As soon as he arrived, he proceeded directly to the Congress Bhavan at BT road and held a closed door meeting with MPCC president Gaikhangam.
After the meeting, Sanjay told reporters that Congress believes in democracy and as such election to the post of president of the party will surely be held as part of its democratic practice.
However, he refused to divulge what transpired in the meeting with the MPCC chief.
He further said that he will hold meetings with presidents of district level organizations of the party who are the electorate of the election and invite their opinion with regard to finding a consensus candidate for the post.
An effort to bring out a consensus candidate will be the main target of the meeting in which 14 presidents of the District Pradesh Congress Committee are expected to take part.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 8 am tomorrow.
In a separate interaction with Gaikhagam, he said there is no difference among party members with regard to the election.
He expected that the election will be conducted in a peaceful manner.
Sanjay also called on the Chief Minister, O Ibobi at his official bungalow.
The meeting reportedly focussed on finding a consensus candidate for the post of MPCC president.
On the other hand supporters of MLA E Dwijamani as candidate in the forthcoming MPPC president election have also started discussions to find out a strategy before meeting the visiting election observer.
A supporter of Dwijamani expressed confidence that the chairman of the state pollution control board will win the election and become the president of MPCC for the next five year term.
It may be recalled that despite such differences among the party members on the election of president, as a tradition of the party, the person appointed by the Congress High Command at the Centre is usually chosen as president.