Nipamacha stokes Opp. power struggle

IMPHAL, February 12: The political scenario in Manipur continues to be fluid as an intense struggle over leadership in the Opposition camp prevented the formation of a viable alternative government after the W. Nipamacha Singh-led United Front of Manipur ministry was reduced to a minority. Eight Manipur State Congress Party legislators walked out of the UFM to join hands with the Opposition Manipur Democratic Front yesterday. Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy has summoned the winter session from Wednesday to take up the no-confidence motion against the Nipamacha Singh ministry. The session was adjourned sine die by the Speaker on December 1 last year after admitting the motion. However, Nipamacha Singh, still hoping to strike a balance in the new equation, is yet to resign. The 27 members of UFM will have a crucial role to play in the formation of a new government if the leadership tussle in the Opposition camp continued. The tussle has already delayed the formation of a new ministry. Those in the race include BJP legislature wing leader R.K. Dorendra Singh, Samata Legislature Party leader Radhabinod Koijam and Union minister of state for food processing Chaoba Singh of the breakaway MSCP faction. Speaker Dhananjoy was also hoping to be a consensus candidate in the event of a major leadership crisis. The Chief Minister has sent feelers to both Dorendra Singh and Radhabinod Koijam, hoping to team up with the leader who loses the race. Sources said the Chief Minister would resign on Wednesday before the Assembly session if he ran out of alternatives to save his sinking ship. Sensing the mood in the ruling camp, MDF spokesman O. Joy Singh said the leadership issue in the Opposition camp will be decided only after toppling the Nipamacha Singh ministry on the floor of the Assembly. Denying any leadership tussle in the MDF, Joy Singh said the possibility of imposing President's rule has now faded after the eight MSCP legislators withdrew support from the UFM ministry. The UFM, meanwhile, is keeping up a brave front saying there was no crisis in the party. Deputy Chief Minister L. Chandramani Singh told a news conference that the strength of the UFM was still 35 in the 60-member Manipur Assembly. The effective strength of the House is 59 following the death of a Samata Party MLA. Chandramani Singh also denied taking any decision by the MSCP legislature wing to withdraw from the National Democratic Alliance. He said the legislature wing had only expressed dissatisfaction over remarks made by two Central leaders of the BJP and Samata Party. Chandramani Singh accused some ministers of spreading rumours to create a rift in the MSCP. Nipamacha Singh has informed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee about the expulsion of Union minister Th. Chaoba Singh for six years from the primary membership of the MSCP. The Chief Minister wrote to Vajpayee today saying he himself will represent the party in the NDA co-ordinating committee. The breakaway MSCP faction today elected former sports minister M. Hemanta Singh as its leader. The Samata Party, which is the second largest party with 12 MLAs after the MSCP, has staked claim to forming the next government. Party general secretary Shambhu Srivastava said in New Delhi yesterday that his party, being the single largest in the Opposition, should be invited by the Governor to form the new government. Srivastava, along with BJP national secretary, in charge of Manipur, P.B. Acharya have reached Imphal to thrash out the leadership issue.