Politics / Manipur

IMPHAL, April 15: The Manipur State Congress Party-Nipamacha group is unlikely to field a candidate for the by-election of Kshetrigao assembly constituency to be held on May 11. On the other hand, the Chaoba-led MSCP group will discuss whether the group will put up a party candidate or not after hearing the verdict of the Election Commission of India to be delivered on April 17 with regard to the factional dispute in the MSCP. While talking to this newspaper, the Union Minister of State for Food Processing, T Chaoba yesterday said that since there was enough time for filing the nomination...

IMPHAL, April 15: The All Manipur Students Union, AMSU has decided to appeal to the concerned authorities and others to make it possible for Catholic schools based in the valley to reopen immediately in the interest of the students. This was one of the resolutions adopted at a meting between AMSU and guardians of students studying in the Catholic schools in the valley of the state today at the conference hall of DM College of Arts from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm in connection with the suspension of regular classes in eight Catholic schools. A statement issued by the general secretary, AMSU H/Q, after...

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...

IMPHAL, April 12: Although there has been an understanding at the top level of the various political parties in the Ruling coalition, the People's Front, headed by Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam, that the Samata Party candidate for the Kshetrigao Assembly by-election would be given a clear field, the scenario at the ground level is entirely different. Political observers here predict considerable friction between the Ruling allies if their leadership pushes forward their understanding without first seeking the endorsement of their workers. There are already indication of revolts within the...

IMPHAL, April 12: The leader of a faction of the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), T Chaoba Singh said the Election Commission will hold a hearing on April 17 to settle the issue arising out of a division within the party. Chaoba, who is also the Union Minister of State for Food Processing hoped that the verdict of the Election Commission will be announced promptly to enable the party file nomination papers for the Kshetrigao Assembly by-election. Soon after his arrival in Imphal today Chaoba told this reporter that of the 31 MSCP legislators excluding Thangminlien and Speaker, 19 MLAs have...

IMPHAL, April 11: The state BJP is unlikely to put up any candidate for the by-elections to Kshetrigao Assembly constituency, scheduled to take place next month, according to reliable sources. The Kshetrigao seat was vacated following the sudden demise of Wangkhem Basantakumar, the lone Samata Party MLA in the current Assembly and party president on January 26 last. According to sources, newly elected BJP chief, Jana Krishnamurthi, has assured Sambhu Shrivastava, secretary of the Samata Party, that the BJP would not contest the Kshetrigao by-elections. Krishnamurthi, in a letter to Shrivastava...

IMPHAL, April 11: The solitary Opposition member in the 60-member House and former Chief Minister, Rishang Keishing has resigned from the Public Accounts Committee of the State Assembly and the Estimates Committee here. The veteran politician, Rishang Keishing, was included as member of the PAC and the Estimates Committee during the last Assembly session. Rishang tendered his resignation paper to the Speaker. The Speaker is empowered to nominate the chairman of the House committee. After submitting his resignation paper on Monday, the former Chief Minister said that the chairman of the PAC...

IMPHAL, April 10: With the political atmosphere in the People's Front Government becoming robust in view of the Kshetrigao Assembly constituency by-polls slated for May 11; several leaders of PF partners who are Ministers in the Radhabinod Koijam Ministry have today rushed to Delhi to meet central leaders. Health and Family Welfare Minister Nimaichand Luwang, Law Minister O Joy, Higher Education Minister H Bhuban and MoS Health and FW K Ranjit left Imphal today. Speaker S Dhananjoy, IFCD Minister Haobam Borobabu, MLA H Bidur along with Union Minister of State for Food Processing T Chaoba had...

IMPHAL, April 9: Preparations for the reported defection move by some sitting MLAs of the Manipur State Congress Party, MSCP, to the ruling Samata Party, is near complete, according to an insider source. The defection move is the result of a low profile campaign by the Samata Party to increase its strength of 12 in the House, to one of a single party majority, together with the growing disillusionment of the MSCP legislators with the internal power struggle between the former Chief Minister, Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh, and the Union minister of state for food processing, T Chaoba Singh. The...

IMPHAL, April 8: With no help from the state government and the Centre, the residents of Molcham, Khayansssssg and Yangoulein villages on the Indo-Myanmar border are living under the shadow of threats from the Myanmarese Army. Their immediate concern is the absence of any Indian security forces in the area. Manipur's Molcham valley, which has been embroiled in controversy for the past four decades, was in the news again after the Manipur Human Rights Commission took up a case of alleged torture of Indian villagers by the Myanmarese Army. Situated in Chandel district, Molcham had always been...