Hearing on MSCP factional dispute on April 17

IMPHAL, April 13: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed the former Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha and Thounaojam Chaoba who are making contrasting claims that the Manipur State Congress (MSCP) faction, headed by them is the real MSCP, to attend the hearing of the case on April 17 at the office of ECI at New Delhi. As a result, the ongoing factional dispute in the NSCP will be solved on the hearing date. It is also understood that the notice issued by the principal secretary of the Election Commission KJ Rao has instructed the two presidents of the MSCP to send their counsels for the hearing if the two contending leaders failed to make personal appearance on the said day. Meanwhile, another informed source admitted that following the formation of the two Manipur State Congress Party factions and after hearing both the sides, the Commission is likely to freeze the election symbol of the party. Mention may be made here that the present Minister of State for Food Processing, Thounaojam Chaoba, who is the working president of the party, had recently claimed that he was elected as the new president of the party following an election in the last week of March this year. However, another group of the party led by the ex-Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha claimed that the latter is the leader of the party. Both the factions also blamed each other through local newspapers recently in this regard. Meanwhile, all the Manipur Rifles jawans and police personnel of the State Police force have been given their ration money which amounts to Rs 529 per head. As a result, the proposed strike has been suspended. But the pending salaries for the last two months would be paid along with other department's employee. All the Manipur Rifles jawans have also resumed their service following the payment of ration-money and held talks with the commandants of the battalion. Arrangement has also been made to shuffle the commands of the jawans, sources said, adding that the step was being taken up to discourage some of the commanders to instigate revolts as have been found.