Tussle for NCP leadership rages
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 07 2012: There has been no respite as of now in the tussle for NCP Manipur unit leadership between Radhabinod Koijam and L Ibomcha who is claiming to the new president of NCP.

By exposing matters related to party fund with regard to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections which otherwise should be kept confidential, Radhabinod Koijam has revealed his intention to abolish NCP from the soil of India, L Ibomcha asserted.

Speaking to media persons at NCP Tiddim Road, Thouda Bhabok office today, NCP Manipur unit president L Ibomcha said that Radhabinod Koijam, while disclosing the amounts given to different candidates who contested the last Assembly elections on NCP tickets for election expenditure, maintained that he got only Rs five lakhs.

"Even as the NCP central leadership offered me Rs 30 lakhs for election expenditure, the then NCP Manipur unit president Radhabinod Koijam gave me only Rs 18 lakhs" .

"When I got Rs 18 lakhs, should the party president get only Rs five lakhs?" Ibomcha questioned.

Pointing out that the upper ceiling of poll expenditure fixed by the Election Commission for each candidate was Rs eight lakhs, Ibomcha asked which candidate would show that he/she spent more that Rs five lakhs.

"Whatever amount left with me after making the necessary expenditures was returned to the party high command", Ibomcha claimed.

It is surprising that a man who had even held the post of Chief Minister complained to the ECI against an MLA of his own party.

Even then, if one should complain, it should be done within 45 days after the election results were declared, he said.

Radhabinod Koijam has been keeping it a closely guarded secret where and how the amounts of Rs 2.98 crores sanctioned by the party's high command as party fund, Rs 4.53 lakhs sanctioned for party functionaries, Rs 2.95 lakhs sanctioned for hiring vehicles and Rs 3.54 lakhs sanctioned for miscellaneous purposes were utilised.

Ibomcha went on to charge that a large amount of money was left with Radhabinod Koijam.

Reacting to the claim of Radhabinod Koijam being president of NCP Manipur unit, Ibomcha asserted that he might be president of Thangmeiband AC only.

As a rule, notification should be issued seven days ahead of the party's organisational election but no notification was issued.

As such, many could not file nomination papers in time.

Moreover the voters' list was also manipulated.

When the central election authority came to know about all the fraudulent practices of Radhabinod Koijam, the State committee led by Radhabinod was abolished.

"After this, a new ad-hoc committee was set up and I was unanimously elected president", claimed Ibomcha.

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