Eight flee CM's camp and walk into speaker's

IMPHAL, February 10: The citadel of the dominant partner of ruling United Front coalition government, the Manipur State Congress Party, MSCP, has begun to crumble. After holding out for nearly three months in its stronghold at the Chief Minister, W Nipamacha's official bungalow, and a camp that was rumoured to be in the nature of a concentration camp, the dykes suddenly seem to have given away, and eight of the campers have escaped and walked into the Opposition Manipur Democratic Front, MDF, camp being held at the Speaker, S Dhananjoy's bungalow. The eight; three cabinet ministers, one minister of state (independent charge), two MoS, one MLA and one deputy chairman planning, have been confirmed to have landed at the Opposition MDF camp. They are: T Bira (revenue), M Hemanta (Youth affairs and Sports), Hankhanpao (Sericulture), Allauddin (MoS Independent minority), Onjamang Haokip (MoS PHED), and Mangaibou (MoS Works), L Jatra (deputy chairman planning board), and Chungkhosei (MLA). The deserters from the CM's camp were led by the minister YAS, M Hemanta, according to reliable sources in the MDF camp. According to the report brought by those who crossed camp, there are many more in the CM's camp desperate to leave and walk into the Opposition camp, but were being prevented by the CM's men. In a desperate bid to save the situation, the Chief Minister, W Nipamacha Singh, it is learnt, summoned some high-ranking police officials and ordered them to 'rescue' those who fled from his camp, but the fugitives, who already ensconced themselves at the Speaker's residence, were not accessible, according to a source. Moreover the eight MLAs were kept under extremely close guards and vigil by the Opposition campers, the source said. Earlier, it is learnt that the Chief Minister came down in person to sericulture minister Hankhanpao who was staying at home then, to persuade him to come to the ruling camp, but even as he was there another minister, K Tomba, (MoS IFCD) reportedly escaped from the CM's camp. Tomba however is still to report at the Opposition camp, sources said. When Hankhanpao refused to come along with the Chief Minister, deputy CM, L Chandramani came along to get him, but was turned away from the gate by his house guards. Meanwhile it is learnt that the Union minister for food processing, and working president of the MSCP, T Chaoba Singh, is scheduled to come to Imphal tomorrow. It may also be noteworthy that all those who left the CM's camp today under the leadership of M Hemanta are close to the Union minister. Hemanta who spoke to IFP said most of the ministers in the UF ministry have lost confidence in the leadership of the Chief Minister. The ministers are also unhappy that the UF ministry today has come to be anti-people, he said. As of midnight the party position is: Total House Strength: 59; Opposition (MDF) campers: 30, without Speaker; Ruling Campers: 27; Rishang Keishing is alone in the Congress which has not joined the MDF.