No-trust motion against Manipur Speaker on Dec. 4

IMPHAL, NOV. 24. As the stand- off between rival factions in Manipur's ruling United Legislature Front showed no sign of an end, a top aide of Chief Minister, Mr. Nipmacha Singh today said a no-confidence motion would be moved against the Speaker, Mr. Dhananjoy Singh, in the winter session of the Assembly on Dec. 4.

The Urban Development Minister, Mr. Paonaom Achou Singh, said ``whip will be issued to MLAs by the respective parties of the coalition during discussion of the motion against the Speaker, who had attacked the Nipmacha Singh government's performance, in the House. The front comprises Manipur State Congress Party, the Federal Party of Manipur and an independent.

The political turmoil in Manipur began with the Speaker's criticism of the Chief Minister on November 15 and his subsequent disqualification of the Horticulture Minister, Mr. T. Kipgen.

The Chief Minister had yesterday decided to seek a confidence vote after the Gauhati High Court stayed the Speaker's order disqualifying Mr. Kipgen's membership of the Assembly and allowed him to participate in the House proceedings.

In the 60-member Manipur Assembly,the front has the support of 38 members. The combined strength of the Opposition is 21.

Front sources apprehended that the Speaker might disqualify eight Front MLAs, whose cases of disqualification were pending with him, just a day or two before the Assembly session on Dec. 1 so that they would not have time to go to court, which would reduce the Front's strength to 30, the sources said.

Meanwhile, senior Opposition leaders, Mr. Nimaichand Luwang (Congress) and Mr. Okbam joy Singh (Manipur People's Party) said ``we are not disheartened by the staying of disqualification of Kipgen by the court because it does not affect our strategy to topple the Front ministry.''

They told mediapersons that they had ``enough strength to save the Speaker and topple the ministry'' but refused to elaborate.

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Section  : Other States
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