Post Poll: Every candidate is a winner
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 05, 2012: Even though results of the election to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly is yet to be declared, one interesting development that has emerged after the state went to poll on January 26 is the claim of every political party that their respective candidates are the winners.

Based on their respective calculation, every candidate consider themselves to be the winner and their agents organise feast in celebration.

As of now, none could say for sure which political parties would get how many seats until declaration of the results, but the Indian National Congress (INC) is hoping against hope to garner 31 to 35 seats.

Living under the impression that it would get absolute majority, INC has also shied away from talking to other political parties on formation of a coalition government.

Even if Congress party were to emerge as the single largest party or get absolute majority or enter into post-poll alliance with other political parties for formation of a coalition government after the result is out, one thing that is sure to happen within the Congress party would be fight for the Chief Minister's post.

According to sources in the Congress party, even before the election, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has been adopting various political strategies to keep intact his position causing resentment among many senior party leaders.

Chief Minister Ibobi has already prepared a list of Congress candidates who are likely to come out successful in the election and only those Ministers, MLAs and workers who are close to him are privy to the list.

In the list, Ibobi marks 'A' against the names of the candidates who are sure to win, 'B' against the name of candidates who have strong contender and may or may not win and 'C' against those who have no chances of winning at all, sources disclosed, adding that the number of 'A' category candidates is less than 20 while 'B' candidates are above 15. On the other hand, another group of Congressmen, who has secretly plotting to remove Ibobi from the post of Chief Minister, has worked out more than 30 party candidates would come out successful in the election.

This group wants that MPCC President Gaikhangam should take over as leader of the party's Legislature Wing in case he is re-elected.

There is also another group of Congressman who feel that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh should remain the leader of the Legislature Wing.

This issue may get settled once the election result is out by afternoon of March 6.But in the tussle between the two groups, there is the possibility of Congress MLAs setting up camps, sources said.

Sources further disclosed that there are some party leaders who are banking on Minister Erabot as the next Chief Ministerial candidate.

Even businessmen in Khwairamband Bazar want Erabot to be the next leader of Congress Legislature Party.

However, whether Gaikhangam, who is not just the President of MPCC but also in the race of Chief Ministerial candidate, would support such a move or not is still unclear.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh reportedly held an in-camera meeting with Revenue Minister Th Debendra to discuss some serious issues.

From this development, it appears that Debendra would be out of the race for the Chief Minister's post but remain as the second lieutenant, sources added.

Comment