Imphal, September 10: With rumbling sound of discontentment heard within the party over the leadership of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, secretary of Indian Congress Committee Imram Kidwai will arrive here on September 12 and hold talks with State Congress party legislators to resolve the matter, according to a reliable party source.

Kidwai, who is also the party�s North East in-charge will grant an audience to the party functionaries of the State unit including the office bearers of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, district presidents and leaders of the party�s frontal organizations to get their opinions on the issue.

During his stay at the here, Kidwai will also take stock of the prevailing law and order situation in the State following the mass movement for withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Kidwai is also expected to touch on matters related to selection of a suitable party candidate for contesting in the by-election to the Konthoujam Assembly Constituency which goes to poll on October 13, the source said.

He will leave Imphal for New Delhi on September 15.It may be noted here that the term of O Ibobi Singh as party president has already expired and voices of dissent have been raised from some quarters within the party against the continuance of Ibobi Singh in the post which goes against the party�s principle of one man one post.

Disgruntled party members contended that entrusting two posts to one person has caused certain inconveniences in the functioning of the party.

Meanwhile, an informed source said that four persons submitted their nomination papers to seek the Congress ticket for the forthcoming by-election to the Konthoujam Assembly Constituency.

They are Dr S Bhudhachandra, A Manihar, S Nabakumar and S Ibobi.

Recommendations have been sought from Block Level Congress Committees for deciding who among the four aspirants should be given the ticket for contesting the by-election.

The recommendation made by the Block Congress would be forwarded to the District Committee which in turn would submit the recommendation within September 15 to Pradesh Congress Committee for final recommendation.

The name of the candidate is likely to be announced without formally forwarding the same to the AICC, the source added.

Meanwhile, CPI, which is a constituent partner of the ruling SPF Govt is mulling over the idea of nominating its candidate in the by-election.

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