IMPHAL, December 1: The Gauhati High Court has directed Manipur Speaker Karam Babudhon Singh to convene a special Assembly session to discuss whether disqualification proceedings should be initiated against Chief Minister W. Nipamacha Singh. The case pertains to the split in the Congress in December 1997. Nipamacha Singh was the Speaker when the split was effected. The final hearing of the case was conducted on December 8 and 9 last year. However, Justice W.A. Shishak reserved his judgment till yesterday. Babudhon Singh has been directed to convene the special Assembly session within 15 days. The case was filed against the Chief Minister by Congress legislator Y Irabot Singh on April 4 last year. It was transferred to the Imphal bench of the High Court on November 3 last year. Seeking a special Assembly session to discuss the case, the petition said the Speaker could not form or join a political party other than the one represented by him in the elections. Nipamacha Singh effected a split in the Congress after the party high command refused to remove Rishang Keishing from the presidentship. He subsequently formed the Manipur State Congress Party on December 5, 1997. The Assembly secretary recognised the split in the Congress the same day. Babudhon Singh refused to entertain the complaint filed by Irabot Singh in this regard, prompting the latter to move the High Court. Nipamacha Singh has refused to resign under any circumstances, saying that he did not split the Congress while he was the Speaker. However, Irabot Singh feels the High Court's directive to Babudhon Singh is a vindication of his stand. The Congress legislator said here today that Nipamacha Singh should concede defeat and resign from the Chief Ministership.

GUWAHATI, December 3: The Gauhati High Court today declared as void and set aside the election of Congress MLA from Margherita, Pradyut Bordoloi. However, the operation of the order has been stayed for two months to enable Bordoloi to file an appeal before the Supreme Court. The decision followed a petition filed by Swapan Roy, an Independent candidate, whose nomination had been rejected by the returning officer. Justice D Biswas, in his judgment, upheld the petitioner's contention that he was "improperly prevented" from contesting the byelection, which Bordoloi won by over 8,000 votes in 1998. The returning officer was "wrong" in rejecting Roy's nomination papers only because he was an employee of Coal India Limited. The declaration was made according to the provisions of Section 100(1)(c) of the Representation of the People's Act, 1951. Bordoloi could not be contacted for his comments. Sources in the family said he is rushing back to Guwahati and would soon file an appeal in the apex court. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 1, 1999)

IMPHAL, December 6: The All-Manipur Students' Union has rejected the state Cabinet's decision to institute an inquiry into its alleged links with underground organisations. The Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh, decided to institute an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge on Saturday. After a marathon Cabinet meeting, the members decided to probe the alleged links between students' organisation and insurgents. The decision came as a part of the state government's efforts to resolve the crisis in the state's apex student body. Sticking to its demand of "unconditional release" of the arrested leaders, the organisation said the institution of inquiry was aimed at tarnishing its image and covering up the government's faults. The AMSU demanded immediate suspension of the inquiry. Despite the Cabinet decision, the state home department is yet to select the sitting High Court judge for the inquiry. Sources said the inquiry was ordered following pressure mounted by the Union home ministry to book three top AMSU leaders under the National Security Act. Organisation president P Premananda, general secretary O Ratankumar and finance secretary H Chandeshore Sharma, are now lodged at the Sajiwa jail after being remanded in judicial custody by the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal. While Premananda and Ratankumar were arrested by Assam Rifles on November 22 last, Chandeshore was nabbed by the police two days later. The Assam Rifles had arrested UNLF's chief of Army staff N. Marjit from the AMSU finance secretary's house on November 22. Nearly 10 AMSU activists were also arrested by the police after they launched an agitation demanding unconditional release of the three leaders. The police also arrested Amdu publicity secretary W. Jyotikumar and assistant secretary Jiten Singh yesterday. The arrested AMSU leaders and activists have launched a fast-unto-death inside the jail in protest against the arrests. The Meira Paibis have also condemned the state government. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 7, 1999)

IMPHAL, December 6: Crisis dogs Manipur Congress with party president Sonia Gandhi yet to take a decision on the removal of state PCC president Phungzathang Tonsing. AICC observer Bhubaneshwor Kalita, who arrived here yesterday, left for Delhi today after meeting the two camps - the pro-Tonsing camp backed by former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing and the rival camp led by Y. Irabot Singh and Congress Legislature Party leader Radhabinod Koijam. Kalita will submit his report to the AICC chief tonight, sources said. The high command will take a decision after discussing the report with senior party leaders. Kalita was accorded a warm welcome by Congress workers on his arrival at the Congress Bhavan yesterday. However, when he could not announce a decision, they grew agitated. The former Assam MP addressed the party workers, but did not mention the present crisis. The latter then shouted slogans demanding Tonsing's ouster. Kalita had to be taken inside an office room to avoid the unruly workers. Some Congressmen even broke the window of the room he was in and confined him there till 7 pm. He left the Congress office only after some state leaders asked the workers to cool down and wait for the high command's decision. Sources said Tonsing handed over his resignation to Kalita this morning. However, his supporters denied the report. Both the camps were engaged in closed-door meetings while waiting for the final news from Delhi. Three rebel legislators - Y. Irabot Singh, Nimaichand Luwang and Helaluddin Khan - last night threatened to resign from the party if Tonsing was not removed from the post of PCC presidentship. The crisis in the PCC intensified when the high command did not yield to the pressure by the anti-Tonsing camp who had demanded his ouster before November 30. The rebels led by Y. Irabot Singh stormed the Congress Bhavan on December 1, removed Tonsing from his post and installed Irabot Singh as the new PCC president. Irabot Singh and his supporters have since been in control of the Congress Bhavan and are functioning as party office bearers. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 7, 1999)

IMPHAL, December 9: Former state Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Rishang Keishing has finally made his stand on the party's present crisis clear by openly backing state PCC chief Phungzathang Tonsing. Keishing claimed the AICC has served showcause notices to the three MLAs who led the coup of December 1 at Congress Bhawan. Keishing said the AICC has asked the three MLAs to explain why action should not be initiated against them. The rebel camp, however, has denied receiving any notices from the Congress high command. Three Manipur legislators Y Erabot Singh, Nimaichand Luwang and Helaluddin Khan had led the coup at the Congress office. They had called a meeting and "ousted" Tonsing from the PCC presidentship at the conference. Erabot Singh was then installed as the new PCC president. The rebels are now in full control of the Congress office. Talking to newsmen, Keishing claimed Tonsing has the support of 10 of the 14 Congress legislators. He added only four MLAs have gone over to the rebel camp. But CLP leader Radhabinod Koijam, who is backing the rebels, has said the CLP has not discussed the present crisis. Keishing described the coup of December 1 as "undemocratic" and called the rebels "cowards" for allegedly using their security guards to threaten Congress workers. He said the rebels would find it difficult to remove Tonsing as all the charges levelled by them were baseless. Training his guns on Koijam, the former Chief Minister held the CLP leader responsible for the present crisis. He alleged that the move by the rebel camp was aimed at generating communal tension. Despite Keishing's criticism, the rebel camp has already consolidated its hold on the party. A joint meeting of the PCC, Congress committees at the district and block level today endorsed the move to remove Tonsing. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 10, 1999)

AGARTALA, December 10: For the first time in years, the CPM has criticised the outlawed militant outfits of the state for trying to convert people to Christianity at gunpoint. In a formal statement issued here today, the CPM state committee said, "National Liberation Front of Twipra militants are trying to forcibly convert people to Christianity at some places and prevent tribal women from wearing sarees." The statement was issued after a two-day meeting of the CPM state committee presided over by Politburo member Prakash Karat. The meeting also took stock of the political situation in the state and held in-depth discussions on all current issues. The statement of the CPM state committee referred to the issue of forcible conversion, which has so far been raised only by the BJP and the RSS, and condemned such moves by militant outfits. However, the CPM also accused the BJP and the RSS of spreading hatred in the name of religion though the Hindutva organisations have a very limited presence in the state. On the issue of tribal militancy, the statement said militants of the All-Tripura Tiger Force and the NLFT had been carrying out pre-planned operations to rid Autonomous District Council areas of non-tribal Bengalis. The statement strongly condemned the demand for President's rule raised by the Opposition parties. Accusing the Tripura Upajati Juba Samity (TUJS) and the Tripura National Volunteers (TNV) of directly aiding militant outfits, the statement said the militants were bolstering the newly-floated Indigenous People's Front of Tripura with an eye on the ADC elections next year. The CPM alleged the outfits were intimidating people to ensure that only the new front would be allowed to contest the polls. The statement also lashed out at the inaction of the Centre over sending additional forces to Tripura for counter-insurgency operations. Despite the Chief Minister's plea, the Centre has done nothing except give a verbal assurance. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 11, 1999)

SILCHAR, December 10: The Mizoram People's Conference (MPC), which snapped ties with the Mizo National Front (MNF)-led coalition government in the state yesterday, today asked its 12 legislators to sit in a separate block in the Assembly. Speaker R Lalwaia was intimated of the decision, taken at an emergency meeting of the executive committee of the MPC held this afternoon at the party headquarters in Aizawl. The decision marked an abrupt end to the one-year-old MNF-MPC honeymoon, forged during the 1988 Assembly polls in the state. The alliance had paved the way for the emergence of a two-party coalition government. The coalition was terminated yesterday when Chief Minister and MNF president Zoramthanga asked all the five MPC ministers to resign following differences over elections to the village councils, slated for December 16. While the MNF alleged that the MPC had arrived at a seat adjustment with the Congress in 70 per cent of the village council constituencies, the MPC denied the charge saying the MNF was only witch-hunting. MPC leader Lalhmingthanga, who held the power portfolio in the coalition ministry, said he and his four colleagues - health minister K. Lianchia, rural development minister J Thangliana, social welfare minister Lalchhunga and tourism minister Lalthangliana - had submitted their letters of resignations yesterday. The Chief Minister immediately forwarded these to Governor A Padmanavan, who accepted the resignations. Zoramthanga said the government in Mizoram would not suffer any instability as the MNF had 21 legislators and enjoyed the support of the lone Independent member in the 40-member House. Lalhmingthanga told The Telegraph over telephone from Aizawl today that the MPC would continue to offer "constructive opposition" to the MNF government. The Congress, which has six members in the Assembly, has been watching the recent political developments in the state with avid interest. However, a party leader at Aizawl today denied reports that the Congress would engineer a rift in the MNF legislature body for forming an alternative government with the support of the MPC and the MNF dissidents. Political observers at Aizawl, however, said such a move by the dissidents would not fructify as the MNF was a well-knit, monolithic body. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 11, 1999)

IMPHAL, December 11: Ending speculation about Phungzathang Tonsing's successor, the Congress high command yesterday named O Ibobi Singh as the new Manipur PCC president. However, the crisis in the party deepened today with the Rishang Keishing camp staging a coup to replace Congress Legislature Party leader Radhabinod Koijam with T Debendra Singh. With Assembly polls barely two months away, the crisis is likely to peg back the Congress in the electoral stakes. AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes intimated the state unit of the party about Ibobi Singh's elevation to the post of PCC chief in a fax message late last night. He said party chief Sonia Gandhi had accepted Tonsing's resignation and handed over the reins of the PCC to Ibobi Singh. Tonsing had submitted his resignation letter to AICC observer Bhubaneshwar Kalita on December 6. Before receiving confirmation about Ibobi Singh's appointment as the new PCC chief, Tonsing "suspended" six Congressmen, including two legislators, from the primary membership of the party. The legislators are Erabot Singh and Koijam loyalist Nimaichand Luwang. Erabot Singh said the suspension order was "worthless" as Tonsing had resigned last week. In another move by the Keishing-Tonsing camp, a meeting was hastily convened to "remove" Koijam from the CLP leadership. The meeting was attended by 10 of the 14 party legislators. Keishing loyalist and CLP secretary M Okendra Singh told The Telegraph that the high command had been informed about the change of guard. He said legislators were authorised to elect a new CLP leader without the central party leadership's formal approval. The Koijam camp, however, appeared unperturbed by the development. Luwang said the Keishing faction had taken an illegal step and the high command would never endorse it. He said it was obvious that Keishing and his aides were rattled by Tonsing's "ouster" and had retaliated by staging a coup. Luwang said there was no point in "removing" Koijam as he volunteered to resign from his post last month to facilitate an overhaul of the party set-up. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 12, 1999)

AGARTALA, December 11: The Congress high command has directed Tripura PCC chief Gopal Roy and leader of the Opposition Samir Ranjan Barman to pave the way for new leaders. The directive was issued in accordance with the recommendations of the AK Antony Committee, constituted to look into the decline of the Congress in Tripura. A PCC member said Roy and Barman, currently in New Delhi, had already submitted their resignation letters. He said the high command would nominate a new Congress Legislature Party leader and appoint an ad hoc PCC president soon. Surajit Datta is tipped to be the PCC chief, while general secretary Jawahar Saha is lobbying for the CLP leader's post. However, Ratan Lal Nath is expected to pip Saha at the post. Barman is believed to have suggested that an election be held to find his successor. He was elected to the CLP leader's post in a triangular contest. The state unit of the Trinamul Congress is also facing a leadership crisis. All senior functionaries, including general secretary Ratan Chakraborty, are reportedly unhappy with party chief Sudhir Ranjan Mazumder's "whimsical and autocratic style of functioning". Chakraborty, Motilal Saha, Asish Saha and Subal Bhowmik boycotted the steering committee meeting on Tuesday in protest against Mazumder leadership. Amal Mallik, another prominent party leader, walked out of the meeting after five minutes. Citing Mazumder's "acts of omission and commission", he said the former had converted his residence into the party headquarters instead of arranging for a full-fledged office. "A joint bank account in the name of the party is also yet to be opened. Moreover, Mazumder has constituted the North district committee of the party thrice without consulting anyone. He has formed a students' front with an undeserving person as its leader," the Trinamul activist said. (Correspondent; The Telegraph, Calcutta; December 12, 1999)