Imphal, November 02: The heat on the Chief Minister's chair is growing in intensity with a large number of Congress Ministers and MLAs presently camping at Delhi to highlight the failure of the leadership to address the deteriorating law and order situation and with the AICC responding positively, the days of the Chief Minister are numbered, claimed an insider from the rebel camp, while speaking to The Sangai Express today.

A reliable source informed The Sangai Express that the Chief Minister met the Governor at Raj Bhawan today to discuss the law and order situation as well as the steps being taken to curb the activities of militant organisations.

During the meeting, the Governor quizzed the Chief Minister what course of action has been taken up against the MLAs from whose quarters a large number of militants were arrested recently, added the source.

The rebel MLAs have been demanding a change in the leadership, that is removal of O Ibobi, from the post of Chief Minister for quite some time now and the law and order situation has proven to be the perfect whip to crack against him.

Though not strictly official the source said that quite a large number of disgruntled Congress Ministers and MLAs are presently camping at Delhi in undisclosed locations.

The rebel Congress legislators left Imphal for Delhi quietly one by one during the last few days and today, the number of such legislators setting up camps at Delhi has reached about 17, said the source further.

More MLAs are likely to join the camp.

A senior Congress MLA said that there are only 10 MLAs with the Chief Minister, including his wife.

A Congress man, on condition of anonymity informed The Sangai Express that though the voice of dissent has been simmering for a long time, the AICC high command was not in favour of the rebels setting up camps in Delhi.

However with the law and order situation taking a turn for the worse with each passing day and with the Government reduced to a mere spectator, the dissenters have opened the camp with the blessings of the AICC high command, claimed the Congress man.

However there is no official information from the side of the AICC over the opening of the camps.

Though the rebel MLAs were not as forthcoming, insiders said that a change in the leadership is likely to be effected within a week's time.

Though the Congress man declined to answer on who is being projected to lead the Government, reports received at the press said that it could be senior Congress MLA, Th Debendra from Jiribam AC.

Significantly, Debendra himself and MPCC (I) president Gaikhangam are in Manipur.

Earlier, it was speculated that Gaikhangam would leave for Delhi today in the face of the latest development.

Putting to rest any misgiving, a rebel Congress MLA said that they have raised the banner of revolt not because they are after Ministerial berths.

Far from it, what they are concerned about it is mthe deteriorating law and order situation as well as the complete lack of governance, claimed the MLA.

The rebel MLAs are confident that a change in leadership will be effected soon, as the AICC is keen to put the State on the road to development.

In an obvious attempt at damage control exercise, two Ministers who are believed to close to the Chief Minister left for Delhi today to meet and convince the rebel MLAs to compromise.

However sources close to the two Ministers said that they left for Delhi for some work and not to meet the rebel MLAs.

Ibobi loyalists on the other hand have dismissed the latest development as of no consequence and maintained that there will be no change in leadership.

Significantly, the CPI, a key ally of the Congress, has also started closely monitoring the internal affairs of the Congress.

However a member of the Central Committee of the CPI on being contacted side stepped a question and said that it is an internal matter of the Congress and the CPI has nothing to comment.

The member however conceded that since they are also a partner in the Government, they are keenly watching the development within the Congress.

The CPI will take its own decision according to the need of the time, maintained the member.

Earlier in the day today, Governor Dr SS Sidhu quizzed the Chief Minister on what course of action has been initiated against the MLAs from whose quarters some militants were arrested recently.

Though the meeting with the Governor is being viewed as an important development, the Ibobi camp has maintained that it was a routine meeting.

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