Imphal, November 24: Dissident Congress legislators showed no sign of leniency in their effort to corner the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh as their vigorous oust-Ibobi campaign took a dramatic turn today with four MLAs from Thoubal district levelling charges of development work discrepancies and favouritism during recruitment exercises.

While past allegations in their nearly month old ablative campaign for change of the SPF leadership mainly centred on the law and order aspect of the State, the latest tirade dragged in the Chief Minister�s wife O Landhoni Devi, who represents Khangabok AC the constituency O Ibobi vacated to contest from the neighbouring Thoubal AC, as well.

More significantly, allegations hurled against the Chief Minister today reflected disgruntlement of four legislators, elected from assembly constituencies spread over Thoubal district, at the manner of Ibobi�s functioning.

In a joint statement issued from New delhi by MLAs of Kakching Y Surchandra, Wangjing-Tentha�s M Hemanta, M Okendro of Heirok Ac and K Meghachandra of Wangkhem AC, Thoubal district usually gets bulk of the development funds sanctioned for implementation of Central sponsored schemes.

However, out of the 10 assembly segments within Thoubal district, Thoubal AC represented by O Ibobi and Khangabok AC of Landhoni Devi get the lion�s share with the remaining ACs having to split the balance sanction.

Observing that people of Thoubal district were jubilant on O Ibobi assuming charge of the State�s top job and were highly expectant that a new era of comparative prosperity would dawn, the dissidents said diversion of numerous welfare schemes only in Thoubal and Khangabok ACs and overlooking other assembly segments of the district is most shocking.

Inspite of frequent reminder to the Chief Minister for egalitarian outlook and action such approaches failed to evoke positive response, the MLAs contended and insisted that from the total outlay of development works/funds Thoubal and Khangabok ACs have 50 percent of the share.

Substantiating their charges the four cited allocation of Rs 15-20 lakh each for 8 ACs in the district in the outlay of the 12th Finance Commission compared to Rs One crore each provided for the ACs represented by the husband-wife legislator duo.

Similar discrepancies exist in the fund allocation under SPA/ACA programmes, they maintained and enlisted Khangabok-Thoubal domination during recruitment of IRB and State police forces.

As per account of the four MLAs, 40 percent of all the candidates recruited from the district to these security forces hail from Thoubal and Khangabok ACs.

Out of the total post of 640 personnel in the 5th IRB, 201 were from Thoubal district with the number standing at 191 out of 641 posts for the 6th IRB, they claimed while putting the figure to 33 out of 101 post in the Manipur Police Radio service.

Thoubal district also accounted for 51 posts of women constable against the total provision of 201 while in the recruitment of havildars to Manipur Rifles and IRB battalions 93 were candidates from Thoubal district out of the total sanction post of 447.ASI rank police officials for these security force units consisted of 10 from Thoubal district out of 55 with SIs/Jamadars accounting for 25 from the total of 142.Apart from the said figures, the dissident MLAs also referred to 92 candidates from Thoubal district recruited to Grade-III post in the Health and Family Welfare Department from the sanctioned post of 142.While the MLAs� statement did not raise objections to the irrational district-wise employment ratio in the said departments, they nevertheless pointed out that majority (40 percent) of the recruited personnel were from O Ibobi�s constituency.

Informing that the Chief Minister was also the chairman of selection committee/board during the recent recruitment of nurses under the national Rural Health Mission, the MLAs alleged out of 40 from the district, candidates from Ibobi�s AC totalled 19 with Landhoni�s share seven and the 14 remaining allotted to the eight other ACs of the district.

The recruitment were effected as per order No 43/6S/NHRM (E) FW-06, they said while contending that another order was circulated on November 8, 2007 regarding fresh enrolment of 8 nurses from the district out which Thoubal AC accounted for five with two accommodated from Landhoni�s domain.

They also alleged that a candidate from another AC but close to the Chief Minister was favoured for the eighth post.

Persisting with their charges, the MLAs insisted that all the candidates for recruitment of anganwadi workers and helpers recommended by MLAs of Thoubal and Khangabok ACs figured in the selection list whereas 60 percent of the successful candidates from the remaining Thoubal district ACs were not recommended by the local MLAs.

It is most certain that their recruitment had been effected at the behest of the Chief Minister and his close aides (Ministers concerned), the MLAs opined and conveyed that such authoritarian administration by the Chief Minister has been the main factor for loyalists and political workers of other MLAs to feel dejected and betrayed.

Reiterating that their purpose for joining the ranks of the rebel camp have nothing to do with bargaining for Ministerial posts, the MLAs contended that failure of O Ibobi Singh to maintain State�s law and order equilibrium and their bounden duty to prevent the Chief Minister from aborting progress of manipur due to his (Ibobi) discriminatory functioning are some compelling factors for their decision to oppose continuation of Ibobi�s reign.

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