Pandemonium rocks Cong Bhawan
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 12:
Even as MPCC president Gaikhangam and Chief Minister O Ibobi arrived at Imphal from Delhi today, hullabaloo erupted at the Congress Bhavan over the issuance of Congress tickets to the aspiring candidates.
Moreover security was beefed up in the Bhavan following the pandemonium.
Meanwhile, the Sekmai Block Congress Committee was disbanded on the charge that MPCC is planning to issue tickets to corrupt individuals whose integrity are questionable while deliberating side-lining the long time Congress workers.
Even as Gaikhangam and Ibobi arrived today, the MPCC could not announce the list of Congress candidates till late evening.
A large number of aspiring candidates and Congress workers who thronged the Congress Bhavan in the hope of getting Congress tickets had to go back dejected.
Though security guards were posted at the inner gate of Congress Bhavan earlier, they were put on duty at the outer gate today and there were restrictions on entering the Bhavan.
Notwithstanding the stringent security arrangement, some workers of Th Gopimohon who is seeking Congress ticket to contest the elections from Khurai constituency stormed into the CongressBhavan and created a mayhem at about 5:15 pm.
The supporters of Gopimohon and workers of Khurai Block Congress questioned the rationale behind issuing ticket to new comers while ignoring party workers who have suffered long for Congress.
Asking as to who much money they (MPCC) want, the supporters declared that they would uproot Congress party in Khurai constituency.
As the situation got worsened, additional forces led by SP Imphal West rushed in to the Bhavan and ousted the disgruntled workers from the complex of the Bhavan.
Speaking to reporters outside the Bhavan, Khurai BCC president conveyed strong exception to the attempt of issuing ticket to an individual who joined INC only recently after defecting from Federal Party while ignoring the aspiring candidate already recommended by BCC and DCC.
The Congress workers also cautioned that in case the MPCC fails to honour the wish of the workers, all of them would resign en masse from the primary membership of MPCC.
Even as the last date for submission of names for aspiring candidates of Congress party was fixed at January 5, six MLA defected from MSCP and FPM and joined INC with the approval of Congress North East in-charge Sankar Bopana during his visit to the State on January 6.They were officially declared Congress members on the next day.
According to an information received by press, Chief Minister O Ibobi and MPCC president Gaikhangam did not bring the final list of Congress candidates from Delhi.
However, the final list of candidates was approved by AICC today at about 1:30 pm.
Two officials would arrive at Imphal tomorrow with the final list of candidates after which the names of the candidates may be officially declared.
On the other hand, castigating the alleged attempt of MPCC to issue ticket to N Biren who joined INC only recently after leaving FPM in place of Kh Amujao already recommended by BCC and DCC, the Sekmai BCC having 150 active members and more than 4000 primary members was declared disbanded.
Speaking to reporters at Press Club today, Sekmai BCC president H Gourahari asserted that the Congress party accustomed to issuing tickets to new comers instead of long suffered Congress workers would not able to serve people's interest.
Cautioning that Sekmai BCC would oppose Congress party in case Congress ticket for Sekmai constituency is not given to long time Congress worker Kh Amujao, Gourahari said that the Congress workers in consultation with the people would adopt a new political decision soon.