Koijam to meet NDA leaders

IMPHAL, February 18: The political situation in Manipur continued to be fluid as Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam left for New Delhi today along with other leaders of the new-constituted People's Front to end the impasse over the expansion of his ministry. Koijam, who was sworn in as the state's 24th Chief Minister last Thursday, is in a fix as he could not expand his ministry due to differences among the front's partners. Union minister of state for food processing Thounaojam Chaoba Singh continued to block any attempts to induct arch rival Nipamacha Singh's loyalists in the Cabinet. Crisis in the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) deepened as the patch-up formula to end the bitter rivalry between Chaoba Singh and Nipamacha Singh ended in a whimper as the later expelled eight MLAs of Chaoba Singh's faction. Chaoba Singh had also demanded Nipamacha Singh's resignation as president of the party as a precondition to any reunion. Koijam now commands the support of 57 MLAs in the 60-member House, whose effective strength is 59. Sources said leaders of major coalition partners, including the BJP, Samata Party and the MSCP, have accompanied the Chief Minister. The leaders are expected to meet National Democratic Alliance leaders to thrash out the deadlock over Cabinet expansion. Sources said the new members would be sworn in on February 21 after the team returns. Union defence minister will also attend the ceremony, sources added. The Koijam-led alliance is the first Samata Party government in the state. Nipamacha Singh of the MSCP today constituted a five-member core committee headed by L. Chandramani Singh to oversee the present political scenario. Sources said Nipamacha Singh was contemplating legal action against the Chaoba Singh faction.