Imphal, January 12: With renewed hope that Chief Minister Okram Ibobi may be replaced by January 20, dissident MLAs who have been camping at Delhi since some time back arrived at Imphal this morning.

One of the MLAs who arrived at Imphal today said that since Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is leaving for China on a four day official visit this evening and as necessary discussions/meetings with AICC leaders on the CLP leadership crisis have been completed, the dissident MLAs came back to Imphal today.

As AICC president Sonia Gandhi is recovering from an illness, she is meeting only the Prime Minister and VVIPs.

Doctors attending on Sonia Gandhi are advising against meeting visitors leaving the rebel MLAs no option but to come back to Imphal.

By January 20, a new leader with due concern for the State and the party may replace O Ibobi as Chief Minister of Manipur, exuded the MLA.

The MLAs who arrived today include Govindas Konthoujam, Bijoy Koijam, K Meghachandra, M Okendra, M Hemanta, L Nandakumar, M Manindra, Y Surchandra, T Mangibabu, I Hemochandra, W Brajabidhu and Dr Kh Ratankumar.

Rebel MLAs who are staying back at Delhi are MPCC president Gaikhangam, Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Commerce and Industries Minister Y Erabot, Tribal Development Minister DD Thaisii and Manga Vaiphei.

After the arrival of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at New Delhi on January 15, the dissident MLAs will again leave for Delhi on January 16 to exert pressure on the Prime Minister and AICC president Sonia Gandhi for early replacement of the CLP leadership, disclosed the MLA.

In the meantime when the Prime Minister is on China visit, rebel leader Gaikhangam will meet other central leaders urging for change in the State CLP leadership.

The rebel MLAs maintained that their campaign to oust Ibobi will not be affected by the budget session convened from February 1.

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