Consensus candidate still eludes
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 12, 2010:
Having heard the opinions of the electorate, MPCC election observer, Sanjay Dadlika is struggling to find a consensus candidate for the post of president of the party.
The election observer held several rounds of meetings with the Congress rank and file apparently to find a person who could be elected uncontested as president.
The Congress central election committee member held consultative meetings to reach a consensus on the issue.
Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing, Lok Sabha MP, T Meinya, PCC members and presidents of district level committees of the party were present in the meeting.
Sanjay met the members separately.
He called on Rishang Keishing and T Meinya before a series of separate meetings with PCC and district presidents at the Congress Bhavan.
He held one to one interactions with PCC and district presidents from 9 am till 2 pm.
In the closed door interactions, out of 75 electorates of the MPCC eligible to vote in the MPCC president election, he invited the opinions of 60. However, most ministers and MLAs who are electorates were absent.
Power minister, Phungjathang Tonsing, YAs minister, N Biren and Works minister, K Ranjit, who were out of station, were not present in the meeting.
Revenue minister, Th Debendra, Speaker Dr S Budhichandra and MLAs L Nandakumar, I Hemanta, M Hemanta, Kh Loken and W Brajabidhu, former minister Francis Ngakjokpa, T Manga Vaiphei, Khanthang were also absent.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister, Md Allauddin too did not come to the meeting on account of �bad health'.
After the series of meetings, the observer told reporters, he held consultations with the rank and file a party including the electorate for a smooth and peaceful conduct of the election.
Sanjay said, he held consultations only to ease out differences and to conduct the election peacefully.
In the backdrop of the surfacing of differences, a tightened security arrangement was visible at the Congress Bhavan.
Entry of people including party workers were restricted during the consultative meetings.
At times, heated arguments erupted when workers and members were prevented from entering the Bhavan complex.
Supporters of MLA E Dwijamani, came to the Congress Bhavan with the hope that their candidate will be accepted by the visiting AICC election observer.
Meanwhile, even though nomination papers could have been filed from today, no one filed nominations today.
Tomorrow is the last date.
Differences surfaced in the Congress rank and file when some of the electorate projected MLA, E Dwijamani to be president for the next term while some other wanted Gaikhangam to retainthe post for another term.