Imphal, September 03, 2010: Even as the Manipur Pradesh Congress authority has congratulated Sonia Gandhi on her re-election as AICC president, unopposed for the next term, PCC members and district presidents who are to vote to elect a new MPCC president on September 17 have organised themselves into different camps rooting for candidates of their choice.

Chairman of the AICC Central election authority Oscar Fernandes today declared Sonia Gandhi elected to the post of AICC president for the next term uncontested.

Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination papers for the presidential election yesterday with Chief Minister O Ibobi, MPCC president Gaikhangam, MP Thangso Baite and MPCC Treasurer S Achouba as proposers.

In connection with the election of Sonia Gandhi as AICC president for the fourth term, a function was organised by members of the Manipur Pradesh election authority at Manipur Press Club today.

Among others, the function was attended by election authority members L Manglem and A Pramodini as well as newly appointed PCC members Ngamthang Haokip, Jotin Waikhom, L Radhakishore, former Speaker Maniruddin Sheikh and Jangamlung Panmei.

Incidentally, chairman of Central election authority Oscar Fernandes declared the schedule for election of a new MPCC president for the next term of three years which would be held on September 17. As per the schedule, intending candidates may file their nomination papers on September 12 and 13. Scrutiny will be held the next day while the date of withdrawal has been fixed on September 15. With the incumbent president Gaikhangam likely to face a challenge from the Manipur Pollution Control Board Chairman and Congress MLA Elangbam Dwijamani for the post MPCC president, PCC members and district presidents have organised themselves into different camps and started seeking allies.

According to some PCC members who have been appointed newly, as election schedules for election of MPCC president, vice-president, treasurer, executive members, AICC member and pradesh election committee members for 2010-13 term have been fixed by the central election authority, the same elections cannot be done away with.

The PCC members claimed that E Dwijamani is being supported by 11 district presidents out of total 14. MP Silvius Condpan, returning officer of the Manipur Pradesh election authority may arrive here on August 7, they said.

But another camp maintained that there is every likelihood of the AICC appointing Gaikhangam as MPCC president for the next term without conducting elections as he has already held the post for two consecutive terms.

As there would be no elections, there is programme for returning officer Silvius Condpan to visit Imphal, they added.

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