IMPHAL, May 13: The post of the President of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has become the bone of contention in the unspoken battle of nerves among factions in the ruling party, even as new formations are taking shape after the final expansion of the Okram Ibobi Singh led government.
After being sworn in as the Home Minister and second man in the ministry, Gaikhangam has already expressed his resolve to relinquish the chair of the PCC President on the basis of ‘one man one post’ principle.
While it is a silent battle between the Chief Minister and the Home Minister on who should be the next PCC President the AICC leadership is reportedly considering a way out by way of a third party.
Meanwhile, former minister and CM Ibobi’s nemesis Yumkham Erabot left Imphal for New Delhi today even as the race for the post of PCC President heats up.
According to informed sources, the Chief Minister has been supporting senior Vice President and MLA of Thanga T Mangibabu for the post of the state party chief so as to establish his hold on the party establishment and also to checkmate HM Gaikhangam’s nominee Govindas Konthoujam in the Bishnupur district.
Mangibabu had earlier refused the post of Speaker of the Manipur assembly, adds the source.
On the other hand, the PCC President’s camp has reportedly proposed former minister TN Haokip from Churachandpur district for the post of the PCC chief.
Earlier TN Haokip and Ngamthang Haokip’s names were doing the rounds for the President post in the backdrop of a Kuki PCC President as opposed to a Meitei Chief Minister and a Naga Home Minister.
It is still not certain which option would the AICC leadership choose with regard to the state party leader. Questions are still open whether the high command will accept Ibobi’s or Gaikhangam’s proposal or a third party in the form of a senior party leader.
It may be recalled here that the final expansion ceremony of the Okram Ibobi Singh led Congress ministry on April 28 and induction of 8 new ministers was not attended by many Congress MLAs including incumbents in the SPF-II ministry.
Informed sources say, the composition of the present ministry was the result of a compromise formula between the CM camp and President camp and CM Ibobi has had to sacrifice some of his trusted lieutenants to ensure exclusion of his nemesis Y Erabot and some others from the ministry.
At this juncture, AICC’s reported summons to senior leader Yumkham Erabot assumes signififance as he is an independent leader in his own right though without leadership aspirations.