Ibobi rules out more defections
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 01 2019:
Ex-Chief Minister and CLP leader Okram Ibobi has ruled out any further defection of Congress MLAs to other parties.
Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here today, Ibobi maintained that all the Congress MLAs who are still in the party have been working with a single mind as a responsible Opposition party.
Notably, Chief Minister N Biren claimed on September 24 that some non-BJP MLAs are in line to join BJP and they were only awaiting approval of BJP Central leaders.
However, Ibobi remarked that the particular statement of the Chief Minister was something unexpected from a responsible leader.
It is matter of grave concern that the BJP-led Governments of both the Centre and the State have not been upholding the rule of law and they have been using several institutions as their political tools, Ibobi said.
Even the Raj Bhavan which is a key institution of the Government of India is being misguided by the party in power.
The incumbent State Government was formed by blatantly violating the Constitution's 10th Schedule.
BJP even recommended the Governor to include one MLA elected on Congress ticket at the time of swearing in new Ministers, Even though the Governor is the guardian of the Raj Bhavan, Dr Najma Heptulla invited the particular MLA to the swearing in ceremony.
For the Congress party, there is nothing to be envious about such a Government, asserted the ex-Chief Minister.
MPCC president and CWC Member Gaikhangam blamed the Government for the political unrest seen in the State.
BJP Manipur Pradesh is a divided house.
It has been more than three/four months since the party has been sharply polarised.
Reiterating that all the Congress MLAs who are still in the party have been working together with a single mind as a responsible Opposition party, Gaikhangam said that the party has been working to come back to power with a thumping majority in the next State Assembly election which is due in 2022 .
Given the sharp polarisation within BJP, President's Rule and mid-term poll are possible.
To face any such eventuality, Congress MLAs have been working together with the masses, he said.
He categorically stated that there are no more Congress MLAs who would join BJP.
As for those Congress MLAs who had already defected to BJP, they have not been given their proper seats till date and they are still sitting on Opposition bench.
Moreover, Congress party has been working to initiate legal action against the defectors, Gaikhangam added.