Cong faces fresh trouble in Manipur, Himachal

Though the verdict of Nainital High Court favouring a trust vote in Uttarakhand Assembly brought some relief for the Congress, fresh troubles are in sight in Manipur and Himachal Pradesh where the party is in government.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi replaced Manipur Congress chief Gaikhangam Gangmei, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, with immediate effect and appointed TN Haokip in his place after some MLAs threatened a revolt against the party leadership. Rebels are also targeting Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

In the 60-member Assembly, Congress has 47 members. Out of this, 24 members are for a change in leadership.

By removing Gangmei, the Congress leadership has indicated to the rebels that their demands will be met. The explanation is that Gangmei was holding dual posts, and that the party wanted to ensure that one person would only hold a single post in the States.

The leadership has also asked Ibobi Singh to reshuffle the Cabinet and accommodate some of the warring MLAs. The rebels have conveyed to the high command that Singh had promised to rejig the Cabinet after half the term is over. Election to the north-eastern state is due in 2017.

In Himachal Pradesh, the party alleges that there is an attempt by the BJP to destabilise the government. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh held discussions with Sonia Gandhi and conveyed his stand about the current situation in the State. Singh is facing cases of money laundering and the party has been alleging that the BJP uses investigating agencies to cow down Opposition leaders.

Meanwhile, the Congress welcomed the Nainital High Court’s decision to allow trust vote in the State. Party general secretary Ambika Soni said if the BJP wants a Congress-free India, it should fight elections against Congress than employing Article 356. Soni said Speaker is the final word on the proceedings of an Assembly and his decision should be respected. “The Speaker of Uttarakhand heard the lawyers of MLAs for two days before disqualifying them,” she said.

She added that after Arunachal Pradesh, the Centre continues to make mistakes.

The party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Narendra Modi government wanted to subjugate federalism and break democratic tradition. “They got a befitting answer in the shape of a judicial verdict,” he added.

Meanwhile, a Congress delegation comprising of senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sushilkumar Shinde met President Pranab Mukherjee and said the Centre was muzzling voices of Opposition. They urged the President to remove Hyderabad University Vice Chancellor Appa Rao and ensure peace on campuses.

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