Imphal, November 04: Even as 15 dissident MLAs submitted an ultimatum to the AICC high command seeking the ouster of Chief Minister O Ibobi, Congress MLAs loyal to the Chief Minister today dismissed the move of the rebel MLAs as of no consequence and added that in one week's time the rebels will taste defeat.

Speaking to The Sangai Express a Congress MLA loyal to the Chief Minister said that the AICC has not taken any serious note of the demand raised by the rebel MLAs and added that AICC president Sonia Gandhi has refused to grant them an audience.

Since the Congress, as a disciplined party does not encourage internal rift, the AICC will sort out the differences.

A meeting may be convened by the AICC with the Chief Minister and Gaikhangam together, said the rebel MLA and added that all differences will be sorted out by the AICC high command.

Scoffing at the numerical claims of the rebel MLAs, the Congress legislator said that at the most the number of MLAs with them is only 11 and not as claimed.

To reiterate his point, the MLA furnished the names of the rebel MLAs presently setting up the camp at Delhi.

The MLAs are M Oken, M Hemanta and K Meghachandra, all from Thoubal district, I Hemochandra and Dr Y Ratan from Imphal West, Govindas Konthoujam and Munindra from Bishnupur district, Bijoy Koijam from Imphal East and Gaikhangam from Tamenglong district.

The dissident camps have only these 10 MLAs, said the source and added that at the most their strength will be only 11.Contrary to the claims of the rebels, E Kunjeshore, Y Erabot, L Nandakumar, DD Thaisii, E Dwijamani and Lokeshore have not joined the dissident camp, he said.

Some of these MLAs may be in Delhi, but they are all there for their personal purpose and not to petition the AICC high command to remove Ibobi, said the MLA.

In short the rebel MLAs do not have the majority, as they have been claiming, he asserted.

The CM loyalist further said that the dissident camp is already reeling under the question of who should be projected as the leader.

Th Debendra, who was earlier touted as the possible man to replace Ibobi has kept a safe distance from the rebels, said the MLA and added that even MP Dr T Meinya has turned down their offer to lead them.

Meanwhile, Works Minister K Ranjit, who is a known Ibobi loyalist has reacted sharply to the comments of Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing, that Ibobi should step down in view of the deteriorating law and order situation.

Speaking to The Sangai Express Ranjit said that it is highly unbecoming of a seasoned political leader like Rishang Keishing to say that the Ibobi Government should go.

"If someone like me says such things, then I may be forgiven for my lack of maturity, but a seasoned leader like Rishang uttering such words is in bad taste," said Ranjit.

Going on the offensive, Ranjit questioned, "How was the law and order situation like during the time of Rishang Keishing ?" and reminded all that Rishang served as the Chief Minister four times and has the distinction of being the longest serving Chief Minister of Manipur.

"Despite this what did he do to improve the law and order situation,?" countered the MLA.

The situation today is the cumulative effect of the failure of the past Chief Ministers and Governments to address the core issues, commented Ranjit and added that Rishang is also one of those Chief Ministers.

Everyone will agree that the law and order situation in Manipur is not normal, said the MLA and added that however it would be wrong to hold the Chief Minister solely responsible for this.

A change in leadership will not automatically mean an improvement in the law and order situation, said Ranjit and added that the responsibilities lie equally on all the political parties, civil society organisations and the public.

All these entities should strive to being about a political solution.

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