Our correspondent
Imphal, April 28 (EMN): Four senior congress MLAs including a former minister have joined the Bharatiya Janata Partyt (BJP) while lone Trinamool Congress MLA who heads the party’s state unit as well, merged with BJP here this afternoon
Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh and State BJP unit president K Bhabananda accompanied by Assam’s finance minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma, party leaders welcomed the four sitting congress MLAs S Bira Singh (Kumbi), Y Surchandra Singh (Kakching),Ngamthang Haokip(Saitu) and O Lukhoi Singh(Wangoi) and Trinamool congress legislator T Robindro(Thanga), during a brief reception function at the party office at Keishampat Nityapat chuthek in Imphal.On April 18, Congress MLA Ginsuanhau of Singhat constituency in Churahchandpur district had defected to BJP while Th Shyamkumar, who was also elected from Andro constituency in Imphal East district on Congress ticket, defected to the BJP on March 15, four days ahead of the newly elected MLAs of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly were sworn in to the Cabinet in the coalition government in the State.
With Friday’s political development, the strength of the Congress in the house of 60 member assembly went down to 22 from its original 28 while BJP which become the second largest party by securing 21 seats, is now having support from 38 legislators including 4 each of Naga People’s Front, National People’s Party, one each of Lok Jansakhti Party and Independent.
Commenting on the joining of Congress MLAs into BJP fold, Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren said that the day’s development shows that public continues have faith on the new government’s initiative to live together in the state. “So we should not ignore their trust on the government,” he said. “For this we need to prepare a strong foundation for building a stable government and fulfill the expectation.”
The BJP led government also need dedicated leaders who have sacrificial spirit to achieve our goals he felt. On the other hand, five times MLA Ngamthang Haokip said that he along with his colleagues joined the BJP considering the integrity of the Chief Minister N Biren who was instrumental in lifting 100 days blockade and the new government’s initiative to bring a change. Other congress MLAs also shared a similar sentiment
