IMPHAL, April 21: State Home Minister Gaikhangam rushed to New Delhi today in an early morning flight from Imphal after receiving summons from the AICC high command, according to highly placed sources.
Hours later, former Minister and Ibobi’s nemesis Yumkham Erabot also rushed to New Delhi.
According to sources, Gaikhangam was summoned by the Congress high command to thrash out the pending issue of expansion of the 40-day old Okram Ibobi led Congress ministry.
However, it could not be ascertained whether Erabot was also summoned or he went on his own accord. When contacted over the phone, Erabot refused to comment.
A high level meeting of the Congress Core Committee was earlier scheduled at 9 pm tonight to discuss the Manipur situation, but it was later cancelled.
The members of Congress Core Committee include among others Sonia Gandhi, senior party troubleshooter Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister AK Anthony, Home Minister P Chidambaram, senior leader Janardhan Dwivedi and President Sonia Gandhi’s Political Advisor Ahmad Patel.
The sources further said, it was not only the question of who should be included in the ministry but the appointment of a Deputy CM had resurfaced again which led to the present deadlock.
The issue of Deputy CM was earlier shelved following fierce opposition from senior ministers Th Debendra and Phungzathang Tonsing.
Gaikhangam’s grudge is that, the Chief Minister had not acted upon the earlier agreement brought about with the AICC high command, add the sources. A fuming Gaikhangam had returned to Imphal on April 19.
He had already met the AICC President earlier on April 16, while the CM met her on April 19. The CM had earlier planned to return to the state capital today which was cancelled at the last minute.
Several Congress MLAs including Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing are camping in New Delhi at present.