Congress high command ready to announce CLP leader of Manipur

Swearing of oath likely on 12^th or 14^th of March

Imphal, March 9:The AICC high command is all set to announce the CLP leader of Manipur on Saturday. A highly placed sourced informed to ISTV that the President of the AICC Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has decided to appoint Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh as the CLP leader. The source further said that Swearing of oath will be held on either 12 March or 14^th of March.

Mention may be made that the congress party had set a record in the political history of Manipur by winning in 42 seats out of 60 assembly constituencies under the leadership of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and MPCC President G Gaikhangam. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh emerged as a low profile CLP leader of the congress party in Manipur in the year 2002 when most of the Congress heavy weight congress leaders failed to come up in the 8^th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election. With 20 congress MLAs and support from the CPI, Okram Ibobi Singh led the then SPF government and completed the first term. Later in the next term too that is in 9 Manipur Legislative Assembly Election the Congress party managed to increase its seat to 31 but Ibobi continues the SPF government for the second consecutive term with partnership with the CPI.

The source said that the performances of the congress party in the 10^th Manipur Legislative Assembly by winning in 42 seats had impressed the AICC president Sonia Gandhi and also other leaders of the AICC high command. And hence the party had no other choice but to elect Okram Ibobi Singh as the CLP leader. On the question of the probable crisis that may arise in the distribution of Ministerial berth the MPCC had already resolved to follow the wisdom of the CLP leader appointed by the AICC.

Meanwhile, Y Erabot today left for New Delhi to apprise the central leadership for change of CLP leadership. A highly placed source said that Y Erabot might Lobby the leaders of the AICC to regain a cabinet post in the incoming government whoever be the leader.

In yet another development Secretary of the CPI Dr. M Nara today said that there is no question of dissolving the Peoples’ Democratic Alliance, the alliance of the non congress political party. In a press conference held today at Irabot Bhavan the CPI leader who is also the convener of the PDA said that PDA will remain as it is. Dr. M Nara defeated in the election from Wangjing Tentha Assembly Constituency. Mention may be made that the main partner of the non congress group – the CPI and MPP failed to regain in any of the seat in the 60 assembly constituencies. Nara said that the massive victory of the congress party in the just concluded election is suspicious as there were probabilities of manipulating the Electronic Voting Machines.