Nipamacha-Chaoba rift growing

IMPHAL, January 5: The recently developed chasm between Manipur Chief Minister, Nipamacha Singh, and the Union Minister of State for Food Processing, Thounaojam Chaoba Singh, seems to have widened further with the two continuing to react differently to the prevailing stalemate in the State. This development is the result of the fact that while the Chief Minister and president of MSCP Nipamacha Singh is trying hard to save his chair, its working president Chaoba Singh is in favour of imposition of President's rule in Manipur, highly placed sources said. As the Union Minister has taken this uncompromising stand, Nipamacha Singh and his close associates are reported to be unhappy with Chaoba Singh. A clear message of not extending help to the Chief Minister, who is facing a Litmus test in New Delhi with the Union Home Minister, by Chaoba Singh was received recently, when the Union Minister came down to Imphal, where he avoided the company of the Chief Minister and his associates. In view of the deteriorating law and order situation, financial crunch and other unwanted and depressing factors, the Union Minister is in favour of a short spell of President's rule though it was not supported by the AICC members in the Rajya Sabha.