Imphal, March 08 2009: Differences among leaders of the State unit's indian national Congress is said to be main stumbling block delaying official announcement of its nominees for the two Lok Sabha seats of the State.

Inspite of the ongoing wrangling among the party leaderships, information received by The Sangai Express suggest change of guard for the State electorates to exercise their franchise rights in respect of Congress candidates for the Ninth parliamentary elections.

Contrary to Dr T Meinya being the unanimous choice for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency in the last hustings this time around Singjamei AC's Irengbam hemochandra is strongly tipped to be the INC candidate.

In the election for the outer seat from the State, candidacy of veteran campaigner Phungzathang Tonsing is most likely.

The Congress had not fielded its nominee for the Outer seat in the previous Parliamentary election.

For forthcoming the Lok Sabha polls, which the State electorates would exercise their franchise rights in two phase, continuous rift within the State Congress organisation is reportedly compelling party's Central leaders from delaying official declaration of INC nominees for the two seats purportedly awaiting to feel pulse of the party loyalists.

Informed source revealed that some SPF Ministers and MLAs, who are close confidants of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President Gaikhangam and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh returned from New Delhi to Imphal today heavy-hearted as lobbying with Central leaders at the national capital reportedly failed to impress.

The Chief Minister, who was also at New Delhi for the past few days had already arrived back here yesterday.

Contrary to other National level political organisations and regional/state political parties agreeing to field common candidates and officially declaring nominees for the two parliamentary seats, indecision of the Congress till date had been the crucial factor for the nerve-wracking experience being endured by party loyalists.

Speaking to the Sangai Express soon after returning to the State capital, Gaikhangam confided of the MPCC having submitted detailed information of prospective Congress candidates to officials of All India Congress Committee and left it to the decision-making body of the nation's oldest political organisation to decide the right candidate.

The State Congress chief also appealed to the people for patience and await decision of the party's Central leaders.

on the otherhand, sources also revealed of some CLP members calling on the AICC leader Oscar Fernandes yesterday on the issue of finalising Congress candidates for the two Manipur seats to which the latter declined to make any commitment.

Comment