Chaoba files nomination for MSCP presidentship

IMPHAL, March 23: Union Minister Thounaojam Chaoba has filed nomination papers for the post of president of the MSCP, elections for which will be held tomorrow at the State guest house, said a statement. Chaoba filed five nomination papers and ten members of the MSCP proposed his name for the post of president. Sources said since no other member is in the flay for the post of president, it can be taken for granted that Chaoba will be elected unanimously as the party president. The last date for submission of nomination paper was today. Sources continued that Chaoba will be formally announced as the president of the party tomorrow at the State Guest house by the Returning Officer, T Ibochouba. The election of the president will be held from 10 am, said a statement today. Meanwhile, till date nothing has been forthcoming from the court in connection with the suit filed by the Nipamacha led group to stall the election on the ground that Nipamacha was unanimously elected as president of the party on April 25, 1998, said sources. The court has fixed March 27 for a full hearing of the case. Even as Chaoba seems set to be elected unanimously tomorrow the Nipamacha group in a statement issued by its spokesman, S Tombinou today stated that contrary to reports published in The Sangai Express, Nipamacha is the rightful president of the MSCP and added that there is no split within the MSCP. Nipamacha was unanimously elected as president on March 14, said the statement. Tombinou added that all the office bearers of the party have also been elected.