Imphal, November 04: With the dissident Congress MLAs going on the offensive in their oust Ibobi campaign, Chief Minister O Ibobi and MPCC (I) president Gaikhangam air dashed to Delhi today and met their supporters respectively to chalk out future course of action.

The oust Ibobi campaign received some sort of a shot in the arm, with former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP, Rishang Keishing today asserting that the time has come to send Ibobi packing for his all round failure.

The rebel MLAs seem to have taken the initiative as 15 MLAs have reportedly appended their signatures to an ultimatum demanding the removal of O Ibobi and submitted the same to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and NE in-charge Prithiviraj Chauhan today.

The 15 MLAs who have signed the ultimatum include Y Surchandra, M Hemanta, M Okendra, K Meghachandra, Bijoy Koijam, I Hemochandra, Govindas Konthoujam, W Brajabidhu, L Nandakumar, Dr Th Ratankumar, Y Munindra, Manga Vaiphei, E Kunjeshore, FCS Minister Y Erabot and TD Minister DD Thaisii.

Giving their reasons for the demand to remove the Chief Minister, the MLAs alleged that during the last 6 years that Ibobi has been the Chief Minister, the law and order situation has taken a turn for the worse with killings becoming a daily staple.

Moreover Ibobi was also accused of misappropriating development funds and funds from Centrally sponsored schemes.

Significantly, Chief Minister O Ibobi and Gaikhangam left Imphal on different flights today.

On reaching Delhi, the two leaders met their respective supporters and chalked out future course of action.

The rebel MLAs as well as the CM's loyalists are also trying to meet AICC leaders.

Gaikhangam has also sought appointments with AICC leaders, including its president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Chief Minister O Ibobi has also met his loyalists at Delhi today and discussed the strategies to be adopted to nip the revolt in the bud.

Speaking to The Sangai Express IFCD Minister N Biren and a known Ibobi loyalist, said that the Chief Minister is trying to meet Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister.

On the other hand, the proposed meeting of the Congress Working Committee which was supposed to discuss the political development in Manipur has been postponed, said a source from Delhi.

Speaking from Delhi, one rebel MLA said that since the Chief Minister and his loyalists have been trying to wean away some of the dissidents, 12 MLAs have been shifted to a place where no one can contact them.

With the AICC leaders taking a serious view of the development in the last few days, a meeting with all the Congress MLAs is likely soon, said the rebel MLA.

One of the rebel MLAs, FCS Minister Y Erabot who signed the ultimatum seeking the ouster of Ibobi is set to return to Imphal tomorrow from Delhi.

Agriculture Minister N Loken who is a loyalist of the Chief Minister also returned to Imphal from Delhi today pending some official work here.

Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP, Rishang Keishing said that the time has come to send Ibobi packing.

Speaking to some reporters on the sidelines of the death anniversary of Lungnila Elizabeth at Don Bosco School, Chingmeirong today, Rishang said that if Ibobi continues then it could lead to a break down in the social relationships between different communities.

The law and order situation has taken a turn for the worse and there is widespread corruption, he charged.

It is time for Ibobi to go and the Centre too should realise this, opined the veteran Congress MP.

Significantly, a Newsletter on the North East States published by the Ministry of Home Affairs in its July edition had quoted an officer from Manipur as saying that the law and order situation is so fragile that it was becoming increasingly difficult for the officers to discharge their duties effectively.

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