Cong to quell rebellion in other states

The rebellions in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh have jolted the Congress leadership into action to quell similar bush fires in states such as Himachal Pradesh and Manipur.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday shunted out Manipur Congress chief Gangmei Gaikhangam, in a bid to reach out to more than two dozen rebel MLAs in the state who had threatened to topple Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

Gandhi has appointed T N Haokip as the President of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect, AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi said in a statement here.

In Himachal Pradesh, where Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is doing some firefighting, the central leadership of the Congress has stepped in to ensure addressing the disgruntled voices.

AICC General Secretary, in-charge of Himachal, Ambika Soni has been directed to convene a meeting of the extended co-ordination committee which could be a forum for airing of divergent views within the party organisation and the government.

“The meeting of the co-ordination committee has been scheduled for Saturday,” AICC sources said.
Soni, along with Virbhadra, had met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday, a day after the Centre put Uttarakhand under President’s Rule.

Virbhadra had been wanting to apprise the Congress President on the cases lodged against him by the CBI in disproportionate assets case following raids at his residences in September last year.

In Manipur, more than half of the 48 Congress MLAs have revolted against the chief minister demanding a reshuffle of the cabinet. They have threatened to shift loyalties or form a new party if their demands are not met. The dissidents have been demanding enforcement of the “one man, one post” principle in the state. Gaikhangam was the deputy chief minister and also the president of the Manipur Congress.
DH News Service

Plea against Prez rule before SC
An advocate on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court challenging imposition of President’s rule in Uttarakhand, DHNS reports from New Delhi.

Lawyer M L Sharma sought, before a bench presided by Chief Justice T S Thakur, urgent hearing of his petition. The bench, however, posted the case for next week. Among others, Sharma also sought direction for a CBI probe into alleged horse-trading of MLAs following a sting operation.