Prithviraj discusses Cong leadership issue

Imphal, Dec 12: AICC general secretary in-charge of Northeast and Union Minister of State in the PMO Prithiviraj Chauhan today held discussions with the state party leaders on the internal bickerings.

The two factions of the Congress Legislature Party(CLP) had been camping in two separate camps at Imphal, where Mr Chauhan reached last evening to take stock of the situation.

The rebels, in a statement, claimed that about 20 MLAs out of 31 Congress MLAs were supporting them.

State Congress Chief Gaikhangam, who had earlier resigned from the O Ibobi government, was also supporting the dissidents, though he had not spoken anything against the Chief Minister on record.

Mr Gaikhangam said the matter was an internal problem and would soon be resolved. The dissidents said they want Mr Ibobi Singh to be replaced, since he had failed to control the law and order situation and for favouring his constituency in recruitment process.

Congress leaders said Mr Chauhan had personally spoken to the MLAs, the details of which had not been divulged.

Party sources said Mr Chauhan, who has been deputed as an observer by the AICC, will submit his report after returning to Delhi tomorrow. Mr Chauhan had detailed discussions with Manipur Governor Dr S S Sidhu, Mr Gaikhangam and Speaker Dr S Buddhichandra.

The rebels, in the statement, made it clear that they were confident that most Congress MLAs were against the Chief Minister and they claimed support of about five Cabinet ministers.

UNI