Imphal:
In the recently held elections to five states the most convincing victory by the Congress was in the state of Manipur. But almost a week after the results were declared (March 6) the state is without a government in place. This despite the fact that the Congress Legislature Party backed the leadership of two time Chief Minister Ibobi Singh who left the final decision on the 'High Command'.
With a record two full terms behind him and another record of a landslide victory Ibobi Singh's return to the chair of the Chief Minister should have been a mere formality. But he seems to be facing stiff opposition from the MPCC Chief Gaikhangam Gangmei who claimed that he steered the party to this surprise win. Another cabinet colleague Erabot Singh also challenged Ibobi Singh's leadership and a day before the results he spoke to NDTV saying that people want a new leader.
The last one decade of Ibobi Singh's reign has been trial by several contentious issues which have virtually paralysed the state. The most debilitating amongst them was the deepening divide between the Meiteis (the valley inhabitants) and the 'Nagas' (inhabiting the hills). In 2010 the 'Nagas' blocked the highway for more than two months and in 2011 the 'Kukis' joined the blockade in demand for a separate district which went on for more than three months.
The 'Nagas' had a counter blockade against the one that the Kukis initiated. Besides ethnic unrest and highway blockades which escalated prices of commodities resulting in a situation of emergency, the state witnessed deteriorating law and order, worsening insurgency and virtual surrender of the state administration to parallel underground diktats. The challenge to Ibobi Singh's leadership stems from these issues.
Ibobi Singh, however, argues that despite a ban against Congress by the coordination committee of underground outfits the party has been able to go beyond all expectations.
What is taking the Congress 'high command' so long to decide on a clear majority is only a matter of speculation but it is obvious that Ibobi Singh is facing one of his toughest contests from within his own party.