Imphal, June 11: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is in New Delhi, met AICC president Sonia Gandhi this morning in connection with the election of a new party chief of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).

Sources from New Delhi informed that Ibobi, who is also the present MPCC president called on Sonia this morning at the latter's residence all alone.

Although it is not yet known as to who has been chosen as the new party chief of the State, the same is likely to be announced after the Chief Minister returns from New Delhi, sources said.

When The Sangai Express contacted former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing, who is said to have been tacitly projected as the next MPCC chief by some elected district presidents of the Congress, he denied having any knowledge of who has been chosen as the new president.

Rishang informed that he talked with Ibobi this morning and the CM also denied having zeroed in on anybody for the post of the party chief.

The veteran Congressman and seasoned politician further clarified that his name has not been proposed for the post of the party president.

It was only agreed that the new MPCC president should be someone who has experience and should follow the �one man on post� principle of the party.

Accordingly the task of selecting a new party chief was referred to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and whoever is chosen for the post should be acceptable to all, he added.

Earlier a well placed source had informed The Sangai Express that Power and Information Minister Gaikhangam had emerged as the front runner for the post of the next State Congress president.

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