N Biren, Francis Ngajokpa now in BJP fold; Ram Madhav commits to protecting State's boundary
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 17 2016: Two former Congress legislators Nongthongbam Biren Singh and Francis Ngajokpa finally joined the BJP today.

A grand function to welcome the two senior politicians was organised by the BJP Manipur Pradesh at its office at Nityaipat Chuthek.

National BJP leaders including North East Democratic Alliance convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma and general secretary Ram Madhav were present along with the State unit's president Kshetrimayum Bhabananda and party election committee convenor Thounaojam Chaoba Singh and other important leaders.

Speaking at the reception function, general secretary of the party Ram Madhav said that Manipur is home to the Meiteis, the Nagas, Kukis, Mizos and Nepalese and added that the BJP led Government at Delhi will respect this and ensure that Manipur remains intact.

N Biren, Francis Ngajokpa now in BJP fold

Taking digs at the Congress, Ram Madhav said that it is natural for anyone who wants to protect Manipur to leave the Congress and join the BJP.

On the charges of the Congress that the BJP may sit over the disintegration of Manipur, the BJP leader said that if at all the boundary of Manipur is to be altered, it will be done with the consent of the people.

Without the approval of the people, no one can and will change the boundary of the State, he declared.

Stating that the BJP is firmly wedded to the idea of developing Manipur in all aspects, Ram Madhav said that the BJP is for the development of the highways, and "we (BJP) will work to permanently end the problem of bandhs and blockades in Manipur." Work on the National Highways which connect Manipur to the rest of the country will be completed before the first term of the Modi Government ends, he assured.

The hill districts of Manipur are lagging behind due to lack of infrastructure, he observed and added that this is because the Congress Ministers and MLAs are only bothered about fattening their bank balance.

Ram Madhav also assured that attention will be paid to the hill districts to provide good infrastructure.

"The 15 years of loot, corruption and destruction have been witnessed by the people and now is the time to boot out the Congress and make them history," exhorted the BJP leader.

Manipur will be the crucial link in the Act East policy of the Government of India, he said and added that as such Manipur need to walk closely with Delhi under Narendra Modi.

It is towards this end that senior politicians like N Biren and Francis Ngajokpa have ditched the Congress and joined the BJP, he said.

Addressing the gathering, Francis Ngajokpa said that he joined the BJP to ensure a bright future for Manipur.

He added that he is ready to listen to all the instructions from BJP leaders.

N Biren said that they decided to walk away from the dictatorial style of functioning of the Congress and added that the BJP has agreed to his 8 point recommendations.

Two main recommendations include, developing the infrastructure in the hills and protection of the land in the valley just like the hills, claimed Biren.

Ahead of the forthcoming crucial State Assembly polls, in less than a month, three Congressmen have so far joined the BJP after quitting both the party and House.

Former Congress MLA of Sagolband, Kh Loken Singh too joined the BJP fold some days back.

The first Congress MLA to quit the party and the Assembly was Yumkham Erabot Singh representing Wangkhei Constituency.

The Congress Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has been able to hold on to power in the State for three consecutive terms.

Four MLAs of Manipur Trinamool Congress entered the fold of the Congress recently.

In the 60-member Assembly, the Congress currently has 53 members.

Apart from the three Congress MLAs, four MLAs of the Naga People's Front (NPF) have resigned from the Assembly over the ILP related issue recently.

A recent opinion poll carried out by India Today predicted downfall for the ruling Congress in Manipur which goes to polls early next year.

"BJP may get 40 seats in the State Assembly," a confident State BJP election management committee convenor Thounaojam Chaoba Singh said yesterday after the opinion poll conducted by India Today.