Imphal, July 26 2009: Dr l Chandramani, President of Manipur People's Party (MPP), the oldest regional party in the North East, has resigned from his post and nominated Dr Nimaichand Luwang as the new President.

The Central Committee of the party has unanimously approved Dr Chandramani's proposal and appointed Dr Nimaichand Luwang as the new President of MPP.

This was officially announced by the leader of MPP Legislature Wing, MLA Okram Joy at a press conference held this afternoon at the party office.

O Joy told reporters that the party conference held on June 21 and 22 at the party office had resolved to strengthen the party and also to bring about new changes.

As part of the party's strategies to bring about a new change, party President Dr Chandramani hadproposed to appoint Dr Nimaichand Luwang, who is younger than him, as the new President of the party, O Joy informed.

He further announced that the Central Committee of the party today held its meeting and thoroughly discuss the matter.

L Jatra and Thounaojam Chaoba seconded Dr Chandramani's proposal and thus the Central Committee unanimously approved it.

And Dr Chandramani announced his resignation from the presidentship.

As not a single person came forward to vie for the post, acting as per article 27 of the party's constitution, Dr Nimaichand Luwang has been appointed as the new President of the party for a term of one year, Joy told reporters and added that Dr L Chandramani, Th Chaoba and he himself have been appointed members of the advisory committee.

Addressing the press conference, Ex-President Dr Chandramani said, the MPP was born to protect the identity of the indigenous people of Manipur which was losing slowly and also to protect the geographical boundary of the state which was being constently threatened after Manipur merged with Indian Union.

He said, he was appointed President as a senior when the regional parties merged.

He has discharged his duties as the President of the party.

Now it is time for the younger leaders to take charge and try to alleviate the hardships being faced by the people.

That's how he voluntarily resigned from the post of President even though there is still one month's time to complete his term.

No one has asked him to resign, Dr Chandramani informed the media persons.

He further said that the party was a part of a coalition government on earlier occasions.

But a capitalist political party has played spoilsport to that privilege.

He said the party has a policy on state integrity till 2012 .

Former Union Minister, Thounaojam Chaoba said no person is able to remove the MPP president from his post.

In case the president tendered resignation, the party's Central Committee is empowered to elect a new president.

He said the party has been entrusting more challenging tasks to the youthful party men in order to facilitate a thumping victory of the party in the next general election of 2012 .

The newly appointed MPP President, Nimaichand Luwang said, at such point of time when political leaders are hell-bent on securing some top posts at the cost of creating upheavals, the resignation of Dr L Chandramani from the post is the first of its kind in the anal of the history of Manipur.

He said the outgoing president has handed over the charge to more youthful party men with the blessings to be victorious in the next general elections.

Spelling out his main concerns for the coming days, the newly appointed MPP President, Nimaichand Luwang said that he will allay the notion that MPP is a valley based political party.

He said all areas of the state will be toured in order to find out the needs of the people and redress them.

He also said the party will play a more effective opposition role in the Assembly and the party also condemns all the killings in the state.

Demanding a fact finding committee or an independent inquiry committee of the House on the firing incident of July 23 wherein two lives were lost at Khwai Bazar is needed, Nimaichand Luwang further said.

He also observed that the people did not get benefits from the government's measures in countering the drought-like situation.

Ninety percent of the farm land could not be cultivated.

The MPP will not remain silent on the issue.

He said the party will try to help the people in solving their woes by going into the field.

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