Imphal, June 07: Despite the claim of the MPCC president Gaikhangam that he resigned from his Minister post to strengthen the Ibobi-led Ministry and provide a stable Government in the State, the stand off between the two leaders remains, triggering a leadership crisis within the Congress.

Even if the Congress which is heading the coalition Government has attained the magic number 31 and enjoys a simple majority in the 60member State Assembly, the coalition partners like CPI and RJD which have been clamouring for Ministerial posts are closely monitoring the crisis within the CLP without giving any of their own opinions on the issue.

Meanwhile, CLP leader and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and MPCC president Gaikhangam who has resigned from his Minister post recently are presently camping at Delhi along with the lists of their respective favourites to lobby the AICC leaders.

Out of the 31 MLAs in the CLP, the Ministers and MLAs who are currently in Delhi including the Chief Minister are PHE Minister TN Haokip, Rural Development Minister Md Allauddin Khan, IFC Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, MPCC president Gaikhangam, I Hemochandra, Bijoy Koijam, Y Erabot and newly elected member Landhoni, wife of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh.

Just one day after Gaikhangam resigned from his Minister post in the wake of the crisis within the Congress party after it got a simple majority, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh rushed to Delhi to discuss the matter along with the AICC leaders as well as to discuss expansion of his Ministry.

Even if MPCC president Gaikhangam outwardly denied any difference of opinion with the Chief Minister, yet he too rushed to Delhi along with a list of those who are in favour of removing the Chief Minister from being the leader of the CLP.

After the two leaders left for the national capital, their respective loyalists have also followed them.

All the Ministers and the MLAs who are presently at Delhi are likely to return to Imphal very soon.

Meanwhile, CPI which is one of the important partners of the SPF has been closely watching the possible political changes in Manipur as well as in the Government following the crisis within the CPL.

RJD leaders of the State who have been demanding Ministerial posts have also left for the national capital to meet the Central leaders of the party in this regard.

Oath taking : As of now, no date has been fixed for oath-taking function of newly elected MLAs� Okram Landhoni and Thokchom Lokeshore, informed Speaker Dr S Budhichandra.

There has also been no intimation from the two MLAs to take oath.

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