Imphal, September 11: Exerting pressure on the AICC not to allow continuation of Gaikhangam as the president of MPCC and appoint E Dwijamani who is currently the Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board as the president in-charge of the party, a joint meeting of PCC and District presidents has discussed the issue.

The term of Gaikhangam as the president of MPCC expired yesterday.

However, as the AICC has not communicated in connection with the expiry of the term of the MPCC president or on appointment of another person as adhoc president, Gaikhangam continues to hold the office of the party president even as the political strategies of those are opposed to or are in favour of Gaikhangam as the party president has reached a crescendo.

A joint meeting of the PCC members and District presidents who are in favour of removing Gaikhangam and supporting appointment of Dwijamani to the post of party president was held along with dinner for the second time at the residence of Deputy Chairman of Planning Board Elangbam Kunjakishore yesterday.

Out of 60 PCC members, 25 of them and out of 14 District presidents, 12 of them participated in the meeting.

Specially arranged for Dwijamani by three MLAs namely K Meghachandra, Dr K Ratankumar and Th Lokeshore, the dinner was also attended by MLA I Hemochandra.

Some time earlier, some MLAs and PCC members had gone to Delhi and submitted a representation signed by 59 members to North East in-charge of the party Prithiviraj Chavan urging for discontinuation of Gaikhangam as the president of the State party unit.

During the meeting yesterday, those who had earlier gone to Delhi in connection with removal of Gaikhangam informed other participants of their meeting with Prithiviraj Chavan.

They said that it had been made clear to Prithiviraj Chavan that no Congress candidate would be able to win the Parliamentary election if Gaikhangam continues to remain as the party president.

So someone else should be appointed as party president in the interest of the party and the Government.

They also urged all those present that the stand on removal of Gaikhangam should be firm.

It is said in accordance to the constitution of Congress party, the functioning of the PCC is literally defunct after the term of Gaikhangam as the party president expired yesterday.

It may be recalled here that Gaikhangam had earlier rejected the offer of the post of Deputy Chief Minister when AICC Secretary Sanjay Bhopana came for a few hours visit to Imphal on June 18 last in connection with resolving the conflict between the party president and the Chief Minister.

In such a situation, whether Gaikangam would be allowed to continue to remain in the post of the party president or whether a new president would be elected now depends on the sagacious decision of the AICC.

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