Speaker turns neutral in MSCP tussle

IMPHAL, April 5: Manipur Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy has removed the tag of "unattached member" from former Chief Minister W. Nipamacha Singh and six of his followers. The Speaker's order said Nipamacha Singh, M. Kunjo, Kshetri Biren, P. Achou, L. Chandramani, S. Rajen and Samuel Jendai will be treated as full-fledged members of the Manipur State Congress Party. Dhananjoy's sudden decision indicates he wants to remain neutral in the ongoing battle in the MSCP. The MSCP has split into two factions at an organisational level. While one is headed by Union minister of state for food processing Thounaojam Chaoba Singh, the other is led by Nipamacha Singh. Despite the split at its organisational level, the MSCP legislature wing is yet to split in the Assembly. The Speaker still continues to treat all 31 MLAs of MSCP as one unit. The Speaker first removed the label of "unattached members" from Achou, Rajen, Jendai and Chandramani on Tuesday. He issued similar orders for Nipamacha, Kunjo and Biren yesterday. These seven MLAs had been declared "unattached members" by the Speaker in February following their expulsion from the party by the Chaoba Singh faction of the MSCP. The Gauhati High Court then quashed the Speaker's order and asked him to treat the seven MLAs as MSCP members. Despite the High Court's order, the relationship between Dhananjoy and his erstwhile enemy - Nipamacha Singh - has considerably improved after the Radhabinod Koijam-led People's Front government was installed. Sources said Dhananjoy now wants to remain neutral in the current tussle in the MSCP, of which he is a prominent leader.