Imphal, November 03: Dissident MLAs who have revolted against the leadership of SPF Government and are camping at an undisclosed place in Delhi have demanded Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to step down insisting he (CM) ought to do so on moral ground as majority of the MLAs in the 31-member Congress Legislature Party (CLP) have openly come out against his leadership.

The dissension within the CLP over its leadership had its bearing on the meeting of the State Cabinet also which was convened today with only seven CLP members including the Chief Minister showing up for the meeting.

Health Minister P Parijat was the lone Minister of the coalition partner CPI who was present at the meeting.

other who attended the meeting include Ministers holding portfolios of Information and Public Relations TN Haokip, Panchayati Raj & Rural development Md Allauddin Khan, Forest and Environment Th Debendra, Health Ph Parijat, Power Phungzathang Tonsing and Education L Jayantakumar.

According to the dissident MLAs, out of the total 31 members of the CLP, 17 including two Ministers are presently camping at Delhi even as two more Cabinet Ministers have communicated their support to the campaign.

Since majority of the CLP members have now come out openly against leadership of Ibobi, MPCC president Gaikhangam is expected to arrive at Delhi very soon, they informed.

Necessary arrangements have been made for submitting an ultimatum signed by all the dissident MLAs to AICC president Sonia Gandhi reasoning why Ibobi Singh should not be heading the coalition, the MLAs said, adding that the process for seeking an appointment with Sonia Gandhi is already underway.

Claiming that campaign against the leadership of Ibobi is being carried out with the understanding of MPCC president Gaikhangam, two MPs and AICC officials who are in-charge of North East, they clarified that it is not intended to topple the SPF Govt but to bring about a change in leadership within the CLP.

As Ibobi is now well aware of the fact that majority of the MLAs are against him, it would be befitting on his part to step down on moral ground without any further delay, the dissidents insisted.

He should keep his promise of resigning from the post of Chief Minister made during a meeting of CLP if four MLAs from Thoubal district withdraw support, the MLAs recalled.

Stating that it is known to all MLAs and people of Manipur that size of Ministry cannot be expanded even if the CM is replaced, the dissident MLAs asserted that the revolt is not for want of Ministerial berths but for saving Manipur.

The MLAs further said there is no conflict over choosing a new leadership.

The campaign against Ibobi is only a one line action and that is to remove him from the post of Chief Minister.

No question would be raised when AICC and CLP elect any person as the new leader, they said, adding that although the timing may not be right for the announcement, candidate to be appointed as the new Chief Minister has already been decided.

Some of the charges levelled against Ibobi by the dissident MLAs include failure of maintaining law and order in the light of killing sprees almost on daily basis and frequent attacks at the residences of Ministers, MLAs and other Govt officials, misuse of developmental funds released by the Centre and dictatorial functioning of Ibobi.

The MLAs said they are aware of O Ibobi deputing N Biren, K Ranjit and N Loken confidants of the CM to prevail upon them.

Consequently, they have shifted site of the camping location to a place where the three would never know.

Talking to The Sangai Express, Works Minister K Ranjit Singh, who is currently at Delhi, however, said that campaign of the MLAs is not against the interest of the people of Manipur.

Some people who have an eye on the post of Ministers are only holding back other MLAs.

When asked whether he has met the any of the dissident MLAs, he replied in negative but hasten to add that communication is being made through telephone.

Meanwhile, the meeting of the State Cabinet which was convened today to mainly the issue of law and order in the State was overshadowed by the dissension within the CLP with only six out of the total 11 CLP members including Chief Minister coming up to attend the meeting.

Health Minister P Parijat of CPI was the lone Minister from outside the CLP who was present in the meeting.

Though no definite decision on the steps to be taken up for improvement of the law and order situation in the State had been taken, the meeting attended by high ranking officials of the Departments concerned expressed that some concrete measures should be adopted in this regard.

Apart from discussion the law and order situation, the Cabinet meeting has also approved filling up of vacant post of one Engineer, two SOs, one Architect, one LDC and one Mohori in the newly set up Engineering Cell of the Education Department.

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