Infighting continues to rock State NPP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 13 2020: The infighting within the NPP (National People's Party) that came to light when its State unit president Thangminlien Kipgen was expelled is far from over as three party leaders have written to the party's National president objecting appointment of N Kayisii as the interim-president of the State unit.

NPP vice president in charge of Hills, Th Zaipou, president Churachandpur unit, V Chingkhenpau and president Ukhrul unit, M Raihing have written to the party's National president Conrad K Sangma stating they would not accept Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister N kayisii as the interim-president.

In the letter, the party leaders asserted that the NPP National president was 'misled' by some individuals for their personal gain.

"The term and tenure of Shri Thangminlien Kipgen, National People's Party, Manipur State unit expired on the 26th August, 2020 not in the month of April, 2020 as per the records/files maintained by this office.

It is crystal clear that you have been misled by some individuals for their personal gain," said the letter.

When the showcause notice served on the State president by the National general secretary, (organisation) through WhatsApp was issued on August 20, returnable within 15 days, the expulsion order (for expelling Kipgen) was issued on August 24, which is 'against' the Constitution of the party, they claimed.

"Stringent action which has been initiated against the incumbent president with some senior leaders of the party without proper valid reason/ground will be opposed tooth and nail till an amicable solution is arrived at," the leaders said in the letter.

Thangminlien Kipgen, who was "democratically elected as the president" of the NPP Manipur State unit on August 23 as per the Constitution of the party is the "legitimate president" of the party, they said adding they would not accept N Kayisii as the interim-president.

They appealed to the NPP National president to find an amicable and accepted solution at the earliest.

It may be noted that Thangminlien Kipgen was removed from his post as president of the NPP State unit by the party president and Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma for going "against" the party's Constitution and installed N Kayisii as the interim-president.

Following his expulsion, Kipgen had alleged that Conrad K Sangma had acted "against" the party's Constitution by removing him and also claimed that the National president might have been "misled" by some within the party.

Kipgen in a statement had also alleged that Kayisii's party membership had expired and he had been expelled from the party for a period of six years.

Retaliating, N Kayisii and Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar had said that Kipgen and some of his followers are no longer associated with the party after their expulsion from the party by the National president.

They had also claimed that there was no infighting within the party and Kipgen had no support of the NPP Legislature Group.

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