MPP internal crisis: Accusations fly thick and fast
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 15 2020:
MPP working president M Amutombi has accused expelled party president O Jugindro of attempting to convert MPP into a political party of a single family in addition to violating the party's constitution wantonly.
Speaking to media persons in the presence of interim president L Krishnadas, M Amutombi said that O Jugindro was violating all the rules and regulations of the party as well as the financial management rules since the day he took over as party president.
He alleged that Jugindro removed many well known senior office bearers of the party from their respective posts.
With a diabolic intention to create an exclusive group of his supporters within the party, he removed many office bearers he was not happy with and enrolled many others whom he favoured.
Moreover, he brought many relatives and friends of his family in the party's working committee and central committee so as to ensure that he enjoyed majority in both the committees, Amutombi said.
Subsequently, many members and supporters of the party revolted against O Jugindro.
Even as O Jugindro was fielded in the last Lok Sabha election as MPP candidate at the expense of a huge amount of money, Jugindro did not campaign for the election.
He also rejected a proposal to review the election.
His refusal to convene a meeting of the central committee to review how the money sanctioned for the election campaign was utilised infuriated party workers.
Jugindro himself signed on all the deeds of borrowing money for the election expenditure.
Even as certain amount of money was sanctioned with due approval of the central committee for repayment of the borrowed money, Jugindro took the money home and allegedly used it for personal purposes instead of repaying the borrowed money.
This compelled the party's central committee to remove him from the post of president, Amutombi said.
General secretary (administration) H Gitajen said that over Rs one crore was invested in the election campaign of O Jugindro.
As no candidate could spend more than Rs 70 lakh as per the ECI guidelines, it was agreed to distribute the excess amount among different Assembly segments.
Gitajen said.
Alleging that all the documents produced by O Jugindro are forged ones which are aimed at misleading the public, Gitajen claimed that there are hard copies which have signatures of all those people who took money from MPP on behalf of their respective Assembly constituencies.
Jugindro was also unable to give account statements of several months, Gitajen said.
Amidst the internal crisis besieging MPP, a document about withdrawing Rs 1.5 lakh from the party fund by O Jugindro has emerged.
There are also documents about taking Rs 15 lakh from some shops by a few associates of Jugindro, Gitajen alleged.
As per the accounts of the party, the monthly revenue earned by the party from shops is over Rs four lakh.
But accounts for four months have been missing.
"For asking Jugindro to clarify all these irregularities and financial matters, I was suspended from the party", Gitajen continued.
He then appealed to all concerned shops and banks not to give any money to Jugindro and his associates.
If any one gives money to Jugindro and his associates, they should be held accountable for their own action.
Moreover, any transaction with Jugindro would not be treated as official, Gitajen said.
General secretary LC Deban asked if there is any political leader in Manipur like O Jugindro who allegedly misappropriated Rs five crore within two years and one month of his three-year term as party president.