DIMAPUR, APRIL 15 (MExN): United Naga Council President, Paul Leo, today tendered his resignation. Confirming the development, Speaker of the public body, Samson, said Leo had resigned owning “moral responsibility” for the partial success of the UNC-sponsored candidates in the last Manipur assembly elections. The Speaker however said he could not, at the moment, accept the resignation. Samson will call for an assembly of the council on either April 25 or the next day to deliberate on the matter.
The president could not be immediately contacted as his mobile phone kept saying ‘not reachable.’
The deeper issue leading to Leo’s resignation, analysts say, is the election of Manipur’s Hill Area Chairman, a leader elected by 19 tribal MLAs who form the committee. Two independent legislators- Thorhii from Senapati and Kanthounang from Tamenglong - are said to have sided with Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh over the decision of electing the Chairman, Thangmenlien, despite earlier affirming their support to the UNC. The two MLAs were not UNC consensus candidates but had, after the elections, pledged their support. While one had formally declared support, the other had given a verbal communication.
Out of 11 constituencies, the UNC’s candidates emerged victorious in six during the elections.
