Merger move rocks MSCP from within

Imphal, June 16: MSCP MLA from Wangkhei Assembly constituency and former Congress leader Y Erabot may replace K Govindas as the legislature wing leader of the party, disclosed a reliable source from within the MSCP today. In another interesting development, difference of opinion has reportedly surfaced between the MSCP legislature group and the MSCP Central Executive Committee (CEC) over the proposal to merge en-bloc with the Congress. The source said a sizeable group of the MSCP members have expressed their opinion the merger proposal with the Congress was taken hastily with some even accusing the CEC of not maintaining .transparency while taking the decision. This development has given rise to differing opinions between the legislature group and the CEC, revealed the source adding the MSCP members have taken the stand that the merger proposal cannot be finalized by the CEC and the final decision should be taken after a State Convention of the party is held. Citing the election of Th Chaoba as the president of the party, the disgruntled members said Chaoba was elected by representatives from 56 of the 60 Assembly Constituencies in the State and as such any decision to merge the party en-bloc with the Congress should have the consent of all the members. If the MSCP is to merge with the Congress then it should be on the basis of some issues concerning the interest of the people and the State and they should be spelt out clearly to the people, the members said. Of the 22 members of the CEC only 15 are active members at present, the source further said. On top of these other than Th Chaoba, K Govindas and Wungnaoshang Keishing none of the CEC members are elected representatives. The other key members of the CEC are vice president L Amujao, Md Heshamuddin, gen secretary, N Brojen, Y Mangi, H Debabratta and former Ministers H Lokhon and M Hemanta. The conditions laid down by the CEC for the merger proposal includes setting up of a Road Development Agency, the resources accruing from some departments like Excise and Lottery be handed over to the Agency for constructing and maintaining the roadways, press upon the AICC to formulate a specific South Asian foreign policy covering all the NE States including Manipur and to highlight the historical contributions of Manipur by referring to the Merger Agreement. A party meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss the issue of electing a new leader of the legislature wing of the party. Earlier the MSCP legislature wing leader K Govindas, PHED Minister, had offered to resign and had even submitted a written application to this effect. Since then the MSCP has been mulling over the possibility of finding a replacement. Meanwhile the merger move could not be finalized till date as the AICC NE-in-charge, Mani Shankar Aiyar had said in clear cut terms that it will be effected without any strings attached and sans any conditions. This was conveyed to an MSCP team at New Delhi recently.