Imphal: The Congress party which got 42 seats in the 60-member House in the recently held Assembly elections is awaiting an AICC decision on who would head the state by Monday.
Congress officials said the final decision would be taken by the party High Command.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh left for New Delhi on Thursday to consult Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other party leaders on the formation of the next government in the state.
State party unit chief Gaikhangam accompanied the chief minister.
A meeting of the CLP had already arrived at a consensus that Gandhi would take the final call on the CLP leader, and members have agreed to accept the choice.
Party sources, however, informed that there are three front runners for the top post this time – Ibobi Singh, Gaikhangam and senior party leader Y. Erabot. However, Ibobi Singh is likely to be the choice considering his credentials, the sources said.
Sources further informed that the chief minister had already tendered his resignation to Governor Gurbachan Jagat. The governor accepted the resignation but asked him to continue in the charge till formation of the new government.
Party sources said AICC general secretary in-charge of Manipur L Faleiro who presided over the meeting appealed to the members to accept the CLP leader who would be chosen in consultation with the party high command.
Congress sources said among the 42 MLAs a sizeable chunk of them still repose faith in Ibobi’s leadership.
Only 12 MLAs can be given ministerial berth including the Chief Minister himself.
In all three women including two from the Congress party have been elected this time, the Congress sources said, adding there is a strong possibility of giving a ministerial berth to one of them.
In the last Assembly, there was only one Naga Congress MLA who was given a ministerial berth but this time three have won.
Meanwhile, Gaikhangam who defeated an NPF candidate by a huge margin said the Congress will never align with the NPF was it is against the interest of the state.
The term of the outgoing Manipur assembly will expire on March 15 and it is expected that an official order regarding the formation of the next government will be issued before March 12. (Agencies)