SHADC imbroglio takes new turn; Cong expels former Chairman SH Seipu
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 19 2012:
The Congress organisation has annulled the primary membership of former Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council (SHADC) Chairman SH Seipu for his alleged anti-party activities while three other Council members, said to be Seipu's supporters have been suspended from the party's primary membership with immediate effect.
The present turmoil in the SHADC and further course of appropriate action against the four is under scrutiny, said Home Minister Gaikhangam, who is also the Minister in-charge for Tribal Affairs and Hills.
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee's general secretary (District Council) Victor Keishing issued an order on July 18 regarding Seipu's rustication and suspension of the three Council members namely Lunthang Haokip, Lamkholen Kipgen and Thanggoulun Kipgen.
Mention may be made here that after Haokholal Hangsing was elected as the new chairman of SHADC, the three members who had backed Hangsing for the Council top post, rescinded from their stand in an alleged attempt to reinstate SH Seipu thereby leading to the present instability in the Council.
Sources confided that out of the Council's total strength of 26 members, Seipu had the support of nine Congress members in Council before his expulsion from the party's primary membership while Haokholal enjoyed the patronage of 11 members.
Six of the members are independents.
Talking to media persons on the development in the SHADC, Gaikhangam informed that the Government left no stone unturned to revive the District Councils, which remained defunct for many years.
Describing as unfortunate hectic parleys by certain Council members to remove Haokholal barely two months after his election as the chairman, the home Minister reiterated that both the Congress party and the Government is determined to put an end to the perturbing issue and is thus closely monitoring the situation to take appropriate action.
While asserting that the ongoing squabble in the SHADC merits extreme measures, Gaikhangam, however assured that the Government is in favour of 'appropriate act' for the time being.
It is also worth mentioning that 14 of the SHADC members had recently moved a no confidence motion against Haokholal Hangsing barely two months after Seipu was ousted from the post of Chairman.