Imphal, December 09: Likening it to an internal affair of a family, MPCC president Gaikhangam has expressed confidence that the leadership crisis within Congress Legislature Party (CPL) would be settled and resolved very soon, even as MLAs in the dissident camp claimed that some of the Ministers who are loyal to Chief Minister are likely to join the oust Ibobi campaign soon.

Talking to some mediapersons at Congress Bhavan here today before going to distribute blankets and sweetmeats to children in hospitals and children homes in connection with the birthday of AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Gaikhangam asserted that the so-called crisis in CLP is like a family matter which should not be taken very seriously.

Every possible efforts are being made by the CLP leader O Ibobi and party president to resolve the problem at the earliest possible, he said.

IFC Minister N Biren, Works Minister K Ranjit, Education Minister L Jayantakumar and other party leaders were also present at the occasion.

'As a party president, it is my duty to urge and pacify the dissident MLAs', Gaikhangam said, adding that he has not yet received any official report on continuation of their camp at Imphal by the dissident MLAs after coming from New Delhi yesterday.

Nonetheless, the party president admitted that there are voices of dissension within CLP and said it is to resolve this crisis that North East in-charge of the party Prithiviraj Chauhan will be arriving at Imphal any day in the immediate future.

'The people of Manipur have to wait and see what the observer will do', he added.

Meanwhile, according to a reliable source Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Th Debendra, who is being proposed by the dissident group as the possible leader to substitute O Ibobi Singh met MPCC president Gaikhangam today morning to discuss the political development in the State.

Although the source declined to divulge detailed information about the discussion between the two leaders, the source hinted that it has to do with strengthening the stance of the dissident group and finalise some new political strategies.

After the meeting with Th Debendra, Gaikhangam also met the dissident MLAs to discuss various political strategies, the source claimed.

The dissident MLAs who arrived at Imphal from Delhi yesterday have been staying together along with their firm resolution of removing Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the light of possibility of joining some more loyalist Ministers of Ibobi to the dissident group.

However, the dissident MLAs have made it clear that they would welcome any Ministers coming to join their camp provided they do not keep any conditions.

Comment