New MPCC (I) chief likely after Nagaland polls
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 21 2013:
The All India Congress Committee is now mulling the removal of Gaikhangam from the post of MPCC president after the Nagaland polls and before the next Parliamentary elections, which is due sometime next year.
As per the constitution of the Indian National Congress, Gaikhangam, E Dwijamani and Dr Kh Ratankumar were elected president, vice-president and treasurer of MPCC respectively.
Although Gaikhangam's tenure is up to 2015, he himself had already indicated his desire to vacate the post after he became Home Minister of the State as well as after being elevated to the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
Congress leaders gearing up for the race of MPCC chief in the event of Gaikhangam resigning from his post or when AICC directs him to quit include Y Erabot, T Mangibabu, TN Haokip and E Dwijamani.
Although Y Erabot and TN Haokip are Congress MLAs, they are not PCC members.
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Talking to The Sangai Express some PCC members revealed that some Congressmen who wish a change of guard in MPCC has been exerting pressure on the AICC to stick to the principle of one man, one post.
Despite the AICC's desrie to remove Gaikhangam, the high command is keen to wait for sometime in view of the Nagaland Assembly elections, due on February 23 and the myriad issues emanating and associated with the Naga peace process.
Yet, AICC wishes to elect a new MPCC president before the next Parliamentary election, scheduled to be held sometime in 2014 .
Driven by the possibilities of Gaikhangam resigning from the post of MPCC president or AICC's intervention to elect a new president with due permission of the CWC, some PCC members have already started lobbying with AICC to elect vice-president E Dwijamani as the next MPCC president.
Although both Chief Minister O Ibobi and E Dwijamani are from Thoubal district, the PCC members have been arguing that Ibobi belongs to Inner Parliamentary Constituency while Dwijamani belongs to Outer Parliamentary Constituency where one can vote but cannot contest Parliamentary elections.
During the last MPCC presidential election, E Dwijamani was made to withdraw his nomination paper under an understanding and was elected to the post of vice-president.
As consented by PCC members, Ibobi and Gaikhangam recommended Dwijamani to AICC for the post of working president.
However, the post of working president has not been allotted to Dwijamani till date, said the PCC members.