Kim resigns, Joykishan named new President
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, May 21 2014 :
Following her dismal performance in the just concluded 16th Lok Sabha election, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Manipur chapter president and former Lok Sabha MP Kim Gangte has resigned from the post and party legislator from Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency Kh Joykishan has been appointed as the new president.
Kim Gangte, who contested in the just concluded Lok Sabha election from Manipur Outer Parliamentary constituency but defeated badly, has also reportedly dispatched her resignation letter to AITC Chief Mamata Banerjee and proposed the name of Kh Joykishan to succeed her.
While Kim Gangte came in sixth position among 10 candidates in the fray for the National elections getting only 12,741 votes; S Manaobi, who was fielded as party candidate from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency came in fourth position among 8 candidates.
Speaking to media in connection with this development in the party at his official residence here today, Manipur state Trinamool Congress legislature wing leader Kunjo said that after the Lok Sabha polls debacle, the party has been carrying out a series of meetings to deliberate on its future course of activities.
A meeting participated by MLA Kh Joykishan, MLA Th Bishorjit and he himself was held along with other party leaders today.
As Kim Gangte has decided to resign from the party and proposed the name of Kh Joykishan as her successor.
Later, Joykishan was unanimously named as the AITC, Manipur unit president.
In this regard, a letter along with Kim Gangte's resignation letter has been dispatched to the party head office.
Playing down speculations, Kunjo then said the party will never merge with any political party.
Meanwhile, addressing another press conference at his official quarter, Babupara here, MLA Joykishan announced that he has been appointed as new president of the State Trinamool unit.
Party's spokesperson, K Shivachandra, who was also present on the occasion, said five of the seven Trinamool legislators namely M Kunjo, Th Bishworjit, O Lukhoi, Kh Joykishan and K Sharat took the decision to replace Kim from the post.
The appointment of a new president of the State Trinamool, which still needs formal consent from the party chief, solely aimed at strengthening the party, he added.
Interestingly, the party's two legislators namely Dr I Ibohalbi and Th Shyamkumar skipped the critical meeting that took the decision to appoint Joykishan as the new president of the party.
In this regard, Shivachandra hoped the two MLAs would agree to the decision, but added that notwithstanding their (the two MLAs) opposition, if ay, the decision will remain unchanged.
Shivachandra admitted that there was a communication gap among the Trinamool Congress leaders in the state but now things have been addressed.
Mention may be made here that there are seven Trinamool Congress MLAs in the State.
However, in recent time, MLA Ibohalbi and MLA Shyamkumar are seen estranged from the party.
Shivachandra said the two MLAs are very much within the party fold.
Things really got within the Trinamool Congress in Manipur after Kim Gangte appointed Kunjo as its legislature wing leader allegedly without informing MLA Ibohalbi who was then the party legislature wing leader.