Court blow to Manipur Speaker

IMPHAL, March 28: The Imphal bench of the Gauhati High Court has quashed Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy's February 13 order declaring W. Nipamacha Singh, a former Chief Minister, and seven other MLAs as "unattached members". In his ruling yesterday, Justice J.N. Sharma directed that the eight MLAs should have been treated as belonging to the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP). The Speaker had declared the eight MSCP legislators "unattached members" in the House following their expulsion by an MSCP faction led by Union minister of state for food processing Thounaojam Chaoba Singh. The Speaker's order was contested in the court of law by Nipamacha Singh, M. Kunjo Singh and Kshetrimayum Biren. The three MLAs, in their petition, argued that Chaoba Singh (who was the working president of the party) was not authorised to expel party president Nipamacha Singh. They also argued that the Speaker could not act on Chaoba Singh's decision as it went against the MSCP's constitution. The judgment comes as a shot in the arm for the former Chief Minister, now engaged in a bitter battle with the Union minister. The MSCP had split vertically with one faction electing Chaoba Singh as its president, while the other re-electing Nipamacha Singh. A single bench of the high court had first stayed the Speaker's order, but the stay was later vacated by another single bench. Nipamacha then moved a division bench where the Speaker's order was again stayed. However, Nipamacha Singh emerged victorious as the final hearing yesterday ruled in his favour. Meanwhile, the MSCP (Nipamacha faction) claimed that the Election Commission had recognised Nipamacha Singh as president of party. Nipamacha Singh loyalists said the commission informed them about receiving all documents relating to his re-election as president including the list of new office-bearers. However, the commission asked the party to reply to a letter written by the Chaoba Singh faction to the commission. Sources said Chaoba Singh faction also submitted relevant documents seeking recognition. Political observers here said that the Election Commission might freeze the MSCP's election symbol until a clear picture surfaced. Merger with BJP: Two MLAs of the Democratic Federal Party of Manipur (DFPM) - a breakaway group of Federal Party of Manipur - are likely merge with the BJP. Sources said the two MLAs -former Deputy Speaker K. Raina and former minister W. Thoiba Singh - have told the state BJP leaders about their desire to join the party. The two, along with senior state BJP leaders, will go to New Delhi shortly to get party high command's approval in this regard.