Nipamacha action plan widens MSCP rift

IMPHAL, January 6: The rift in Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) widened after the W. Nipamacha Singh-led United Front of Manipur government signed a 12-point action plan with the Union home ministry today. Many senior MSCP leaders, loyal to Union minister of state for food processing Thounaojam Chaoba Singh termed the action plan a sell out of the state's powers to the Centre. The UFM comprises the MSCP and the Federal Party of Manipur (FPM). The action plan, chalked out to tackle militancy and improve the administration in the state, was submitted by Nipamacha Singh to Union home minister L.K. Advani in New Delhi today. The plan was evolved after a series of discussions between the state government and home ministry officials since January 2. The document was signed this morning between the home ministry and state government officials. Many Chaoba Singh loyalists said signing of the action plan amounted to direct interference of the Centre in Manipur's affairs. As law and order is a state subject, these MSCP leaders alleged that Nipamacha Singh had created a situation which would allow the home ministry to interfere in the state's administration. However, Nipamacha Singh loyalists stood by the steps taken by their leader for saving the UFM government. With Nipamcha still commanding a majority in the 31-member MSCP legislature party, his loyalists said Chaoba Singh's move to unseat the chief minister would not work. Together with four members of the FPM, the UFM strength in the 60-member Assembly now stands at 36, including Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy, a senior MSCP leader and arch rival of the chief minister. The rivalry between Nipamacha Singh and Chaoba Singh has further widened after today's events in Delhi. While the Union state minister is the working president of the MSCP, the chief minister is still the official president and commands majority among MSCP legislators. Chaoba Singh manages the party organisation. Sources said Chaoba Singh is now fully prepared to strike against Nipamacha at the organisational level as he has not been able to garner enough support to split the legislature wing. As per anti-defection law, any split requires breaking away of one-third members and Chaoba Singh needs 11 MSCP MLAs to split the party. Insiders said Chaoba Singh commands majority in the MSCP's central executive committee - the highest decision-making body in the party. The Union state minister has called a secret central executive meeting on Thursday to discuss the current development in state politics. The meeting which was attended by Chaoba Singh loyalists have authorised "full powers" to the working president to take any steps in the interest of the MSCP. Sources said Chaoba Singh may even take the extreme step of removing Nipamacha Singh from MSCP's presidentship. A vertical split in the MSCP seems likely and Chaoba Singh faction may team up with the Opposition Manipur Democratic Front to form an alternative government with the Centre's blessings. As per the MSCP's constitution, the central executive committee should have 21 members. But its present strength is 24. Of these, Chaoba Singh has at least 14 supporters, sources said. Chaoba Singh loyalists alleged that the MSCP president had violated party constitution and appointed nine of his supporters to the central executive committee. Sources said the Election Committee had already asked the MSCP to conduct its organisational election by April this year. Chaoba Singh loyalists accused Nipamcha Singh of not holding the party's organisational election ever since the MSCP was formed in December 1997 after splitting the Congress. They also flayed Nipamacha's dictatorial style of functioning in the party. These MSCP leaders said as per the party constitution, there were three posts of vice-presidents and five posts of general secretaries. However, after Nipamacha Singh appointed his loyalists, the number of vice-presidents had gone up to six and that of general secretaries to seven, they alleged.