Imphal, Nov. 16 :    Imphal, Nov. 16:  Apprehending a political coup by Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy, Manipur chief minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh today kept the majority of his Cabinet colleagues and legislators of the ruling coalition cloistered at his official residence here. Sources said Singh became jittery when Dhananjoy turned down his invitation to a dinner last night. He immediately ordered all ministers and legislators to move into his residence. Abiding by the chief minister's directive, not a single legislator attended office today. The Speaker, who returned here from Calcutta yesterday, summoned Assembly officials to his chamber today to discuss the cases pending against nine legislators of the ruling coalition. Dhananjoy is reportedly planning to disqualify one of these legislators and virtually blackmail the rest into joining hands with him. The nine legislators had defected to the Manipur State Congress Party immediately after the Assembly elections. The Speaker believes all of them can be disqualified on charges of violating the anti-defection law. Observers feel Dhananjoy, who has long been eyeing the chief minister's post, holds all the aces as he knows the inside story of the Singh-led coup against Rishang Keishing in December 1997. The chief minister's team of trouble-shooters has made several attempts to win over the Speaker, but in vain. Leaders of all major Opposition parties are in touch with Dhananjoy. In its eagerness to topple the United Front of Manipur government, the Opposition has already offered the Speaker the option of leading an alternative government. Sources in the Dhananjoy camp said the Speaker had stepped up his campaign against Singh because the latter allegedly hatched a conspiracy to remove him from the post while he was in Calcutta. Singh yesterday denied being party to any conspiracy against the Speaker and even sent five of his Cabinet colleagues to receive him at Imphal airport. However, sources said the gambit failed as Opposition members far outnumbered Singh's men. Ignoring the five ministers, the Speaker left the airport with a bevy of Opposition leaders in tow. Information minister and spokesperson of the United Front of Manipur ministry, M. Kunjo Singh, however, said there was no threat to the coalition government. The Opposition's strength in the 60-member Assembly is only 21 at present.