Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 16 (EMN): Two more Congress legislators- Ksh Biren Singh of Lamlai assembly constituency and P Brojen Singh of Wangjing Tentha Assembly constituency joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
State Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh led Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and MLAs welcomed and felicitated the two MLAs during a reception function at the state BJP office last evening.
Four Councillors - Imran Ahmed(Ward 1), Md Sayeed Ahamed(Ward 2) Ajmal Nisha(Ward 3) and Abdul Barik(Ward 6) of Lilong Municipal Council under Thoubal district and two functionaries of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee including chairman media Laishram Memo Singh and secretary Potsangbam Sashikanta Singh also joined BJP.
Earlier, Congress MLAs Th Shyamkumar Singh (Andro), now Forest minister in the four month old BJP-led coalition government, and Ginsuanhau (Singhat) were the first and second Congress MLA to join the BJP soon after the last Assembly elections.
Four more congress MLAs S Bira Singh (Kumbi), Y Surchandra Singh (Kakching), Ngamthang Haokip (Saitu), O Lukhoi Singh (Wangoi) had also followed them on April 29.
With Saturday’s political development, the strength of the opposition Congress has reduced to 20 from its original position of 28 in the house of 60 members. In the last assembly polls, BJP bagged 21 seats. Thus it formed a coalition government with National People’s Party (4), Naga People’s Front (4), Trinamool (1) and Independent (1).
Meanwhile eight Parliamentary Secretaries L Susindro (Home), S Subashchandra (Health), L Rameshwar (IFCD), N Indrajit (MAHUD), K Robindro (Education), Th Satyabrata (Finance), H Dingo (Rura Development) and Dr Sapam Ranjan (Tourism) in the ruling government are likely to step down from their respective posts.
The resignation is aimed at facilitating their enrolment as members of different committees of the State Assembly, reliable sources said. It may be mentioned that state Governor Dr Najma A Heptulla has summoned the second session of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly from July 20.Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretary had also issued a notification in connection with the forthcoming month long assembly session.
