Political somersaults galore as parties jump on RB bandwagon

IMPHAL, February 14: At the end of a day of extremely confusing political developments, a new political front, calling itself the People's Front has emerged to stake its claim to form the government in the state after the day-old United Democratic Front broke up and Samata Party leader Radhabinod Koijam returned to the fold of the Opposition to be elected leader of the new alliance. Radha Binod Koijam announced the formation of the new front during a brief press conference at the Speaker's official bungalow this evening and claimed to have gained the support of six parties, totaling 45 MLAs in his second bid to form a new government in the state. He disclosed that he along with Union minister of state for food processing T Chaoba, BJP leader PB Acharya, SP leader Sambhu Srivastav have submitted the list of MLAs supporting him and the resolution of the formation of the new front to the Governor. The signatures of the 45 MLAs consenting their support to him will be submitted to the Governor tomorrow, Radhabinod said. Dr. Sambhu Srivastav, general secretary (west) of the Samata Party who is presently overseeing the political developments in the state ruled out further developments. In the resolution submitted to the Governor, Radha Binod Koijam claimed to have a comfortable majority and being in a position to form a stable government. The new front claims to have the support of 6 BJP MLAs, 12 Samata Party MLAs, 23 MSCP (excluding the Chief Minister and seven other MLAs kept in unattached status), 1 Janata Dal (S), 2 NCP and 1 MPP MLA. In a late night development, four MLA-strong Federal Party of Manipur, a constituent of the then Nipamacha-led government has joined the new People's Front giving the new front a shot in the arm and bringing the number of MLAs to 49 in the 60 member House. The effective strength of the House is 59 at present. If the new alliance strikes a deal and forms a government, the remaining MLAs to be in the Opposition bench are only pine - the eight MLAs of MSCP who have been declared unattached and lone Congress (1) MLA, Rishang Keishing. A meeting of the presidents and leaders of the legislature groups of the parties in the new front was held at the BJP office and a decision to form the new common front was taken. It was also decided that a common minimum programme will be formulated and to draw up an action plan. A coordinating committee consisting of presidents and legislature leaders of the six parties will be formed to implement the action plan, it was agreed. Meanwhile, the Governor's Secretariat has issued a communiqu? informing that the Governor Ved Prakash Marwah has received RB's new claim to form a stable government and is continuing his consultations for the formation of a stable government in view of the current volatile political atmosphere in Manipur.