Manipur rival factions patch up for berths

IMPHAL, February 16: In yet another twist to Manipur politics, the warring factions of the Manipur State Congress Party reunited, raising questions on the stability of newly-installed People's Front government led by Radhabinod Koijam. While Union minister of state for food processing Chaoba Singh masterminded the compromise formula in this political drama, Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy, also a leader of the MSCP, played an important role. The MSCP had split earlier, Chaoba Singh leading one faction and W. Nipamacha Singh the other. The patch-up was prompted by the Centre's instruction to limit the size of the Koijam ministry. At a meeting held yesterday in the Speaker's residence, leaders of the People's Front decided to induct 28 MLAs in the new council of ministers. The list included the legislators who had opposed Nipamacha Singh while in Opposition and members of the Chaoba Singh faction of the MSCP. Chief Minister Koijam did not finalise the list because Union home minister L. K. Advani had asked him to keep the size of new ministry at 20. Koijam, therefore, decided to clear the list from central NDA leaders. As Koijam's support has already risen to 57 in the 60-member Assembly (its effective strength being 59), he was facing great difficulty in selecting his council of ministers. As every MLA was an aspirant for a berth, Koijam's delay was sending the wrong signals. Fearing trouble, the legislature wing of the MSCP patched up, taking its tally in the People's Front to 23. Along with the eight unattached members, the MSCP's strength is now 31. Addressing a news conference this afternoon, Chaoba Singh, working president of the MSCP, announced the reunion of its legislature wing, saying he had worked out the compromise formula. The Union minister said he was also ready to team up with Nipamacha Singh again. If the deal worked, the expulsion of eight members (unattached members) from the party would be revoked, he added. Chaoba Singh said he had launched the reunification drive in the spirit of the NDA and also to end political uncertainty in the state. He said a united MSCP will make the government more stable and eradicate any threat of President's rule. Chaoba Singh also told newsmen that the allocation of ministerial berths was the Chief Minister's prerogative. If the MSCP really unites, the party will have a major say in the running of the government.