MSCP standing on shaky ground

Imphal, June 02: The non committal stand of the AICC high command over the merger move initiated by the MSCP to merge with the Congress has left some MSCP MLAs high and dry and some are even entertaining the idea of effecting a split in the party and switching sides to the BJP which is constituent partner of the Opposition DPA. Mention may be made here that the MSCP had initiated the merger move with the Congress along with its party president, Th Chaoba, MLAs and party workers and organizational set-ups. The AICC was also positive to the proposal and had even begun process to formally announce the merger. However the move was shelved and had to be put aside after vociferous opposition from the Congress MLAs including Chief Minister O Ibobi who incidentally is also the president of MPCC (I). PCC members, DCC members and its presidents had also opposed the merger proposal. With the AICC putting aside the matter and in view of the decree served by an underground group against the MSCP, rumblings within the party have started rearing its ugly head, said a key functionary of the MSCP today. As the decree served by the underground organizations to remove its president still stands and the deadline for effecting the same has already expired, MSCP MLAs and ministers who are in the Council of ministers are even thing along the line of deserting their party and SPF and switch to the Opposition BJP. Moreover the failure of the SPF government to pull the state out of the financial rut and with no hope striking a right chord with the Centre, the MSCP are under the impression that the Government may not last long. Hence they are mulling with the idea of switching side to the BJP, added the source. MSCP president Th Chaoba who along with key party members left for Delhi to lobby for their entry to the Congress are still at the national capital. As their fate still hangs in balance and with the AICC still likely to decline the merger proposal, Th Chaoba and other MSCP leaders have started sending feelers to the BJP Central leadership for joining the party, added the source. When contacted by this reporter over the matter some MSCP ministers vehemently denied any move to merge with the BJP. However there is as yet no consensus amongst the MSCP MLAs on the question of which party to join. While some favour the idea of joining BJP others are more in favour of merging with the Congress.