Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 21:
Internal dissension against the Chief Minister has begun to rock the chair of O Ibobi Singh with some rebel MLAs having embarked on a signature campaign to change the leadership.
According to a reliable Congress party source, out of the total number of 32 Congress legislators, only 19 are said to have reposed faith on the continuation of O Ibobi as the Chief Minister as per collection of signatures.
Significantly, five out of the 19 MLAs are also informed to be among 20 other rebel Congress MLAs who have intimated to the party's high command desiring change of leadership.
The source informed that some rebel MLAs have been made to pledge support to the Chief Minister under duress.
Nine MLAs are currently holed up at New Delhi to press for the ouster of the Chief Minister.
The MLAs are C Doungel, N Biren, Bijoy Koijam, N Loken, RK Theko, Manga Vaiphei, Dr Chaltonlien Amo, K Ranjit and Thangso Baite.
The source said that the rebel MLAs met a prominent Congress leader on September 19 and aired their grievances.
As AICC chief Sonia Gandhi is heavily engaged in election related activities, the rebels are waiting for an opportune moment to place their complaints, said the source.
Dissension has also begun to rock the party organization at the State level with senior Congressmen insisting upon sticking to the party's - one man one post - principle which is being violated by the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh as he also holds the post of president of the MPCC (I).
The rebel Congress MLAs, are for the present juncture only insisting on removal of Ibobi as the Chief Minister.