Dissidents campaign to oust Ibobi enters crucial stage
Ibobi proposes EK's name for CM, rebel MLAs dispose
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 24: The campaign launched by the dissident Congress MLAs to remove Chief Minister O Ibobi has entered a crucial phase with the Chief Minister himself proposing that Yaiskul Assembly Constituency MLA Elangbam Kunjeshore replace him.

Literally throwing in the towel, Chief Minister O Ibobi reportedly submitted a proposal to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithiviraj Chauhan yesterday to anoint Kunjeshore as his successor and returned to Imphal today.

However the move of the Chief Minister is unlikely to appease the dissident MLAs as they have already projected Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Th Debendra as the man to replace Ibobi.

It is however still unclear whether the Chief Minister will be replaced or who will replace him, as the matter lies with the AICC high command, said a well placed source, while talking to The Sangai Express today.

Ibobi, the proposal and EK the proposed man for the CM's chair

Some of the dissident MLAs who are still camping at Delhi, when contacted today by The Sangai Express, said that Chief Minister O Ibobi was closeted with Prithiviraj Chauhan at the latter's office for about an hour yesterday.

Speaking to The Sangai Express a prominent member of the dissident camp said that the proposal of the Chief Minister was conveyed to them by Chauhan himself.

Giving details of what transpired during the meeting between Ibobi and Chauhan, the dissident Congress MLA disclosed that at first, the Chief Minister urged the AICC North East in-charge to let him continue as the CM with some changes in the Council of Ministers.

Quoting Chauhan, the dissident MLA said that Ibobi was told in no uncertain terms, "It is too late.

Moreover the unfair means used earlier has come to the knowledge of the AICC high command".

Adding to the urgency of the matter is the point that Th Debendra, who is being projected as the dissidents' choice, has been summoned to Delhi on January 27 .

A final decision on the change of leadership is therefore likely to be taken by January 28, said the dissident MLA.

Against the latest political development, Chief Minister O Ibobi who returned to Imphal today from Delhi convened a meeting with the Congress Ministers and MLAs who are loyal to him.

During the course of the meeting at Delhi, Chauhan is reported to have made it clear that the removal of O Ibobi was at hand because of the revolt raised by some Congress MLAs, claimed the dissidents and added that the Chief Minister was given the grace of naming an MLA who he would like to succeed him.

Faced with no other choice, the Chief Minister then proposed the name of Yaiskul MLA and close confidante E Kunjeshore as his choice, said the rebel MLAs.

Clearly making their stand known against the proposal of the Chief Minister, the dissident MLAs recalled that Chauhan had come to Imphal and personally met all the Congress legislators, MPs and party functionaries over the internal turmoil of the CLP.

Even in Delhi the opinion of the Congress MLAs was sought, they reminded.

The dissident MLAs stressed that they have been camping at Delhi for over two months even at the cost of neglecting their respective constituencies and in the backdrop of the enormous efforts made, they would not settle for anyone proposed by O Ibobi.

The one line resolution adopted by the dissident MLAs to propose Th Debendra as the Chief Minister still stands, they asserted.

"The very fact that O Ibobi has proposed the name of E Kunjeshore to replace is damning proof that the Chief Minister has realised that his days are numbered," said the dissident MLAs.

"This is something satisfying," they asserted.

The dissident MLAs are still in constant touch with Chauhan, they said and claimed that out of the 31 Congress MLAs in the State Assembly, 19 are still with the rebels and they have not flinched from their decision to project Th Debendra as the next Chief Minister.

Obviously elated with the developments, the dissidents said that a new Chief Minister will be in place before the Budget session gets underway.

A change in leadership is expected soon as the dissident MLAs had submitted an ultimatum to the AICC high command to settle the matter by January 22, said the dissident MLAs further.

If the stand of the dissidents is not respected then the possibility of floating a new political party cannot be ruled, they threatened in a veiled tone.

The MPCC president Gaikhangam as well as the vice president of the party T Mangibabu who will issue the whip for the Congress MLAs for the Budget session are eyeing the political scenario seriously.

Gaikhangam who is presently in Delhi will return tomorrow to be in time for the Republic Day function when he will unveil the flag at Congress Bhawan.