Surchandra rules out by poll
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 07 2018: MLA Y Surchandra has ruled out any possibility of facing by-election by the eight MLAs who were elected on Congress but are currently supporting the B JP-led coalition Government.

Notably, Surchandra is one among the eight defector MLAs.

Speaking to The Sangai Express at his Babupara residential quarters today, Surchandra said that Th Shyamkumar has been a part of the BJP-led Government since the Government was sworn in.

Out of the eight MLAs, it is only Th Shyamkumar who sits on the ruling bench while the seven others sit on Opposition bench despite supporting the Government.

Even though Congress party petitioned the Speaker as well as the High Court of Manipur to disqualify Th Shyamkumar from the post of MLA under the 10th Schedule, Shyamkumar is still a Cabinet Minister, Surchandra said.

Until and unless, Th Shyamkumar is disqualified, there is no question of holding any by-election.

If Th Shyamkumar resigns from the post of MLA, by-election may be held within six months but Shyamkumar will always come out victorious even if he fights State Assembly election 50 times, Surchandra said.

Even though the seven other MLAs support the BJP-led coalition Government, there is no official document which says that they have joined BJP.

Moreover they have not resigned from Congress nor have the Congress party expelled them.

For any authority (Speaker or Court) to take up action, there must be official documents which affirm that the eight MLAs have joined BJP.

Wearing BJP caps is not enough, Surchandra said.

In the absence of official documents, there is no reason for anyone to file petitions either at Court or the Speaker's office seeking disqualification of the seven MLAs, he said.

When Congress MLAs walked out of the State Assembly on several occasions, the seven MLAs did not join them but took part in discussing all the Bills tabled by the Government.

The seven MLAs and Minister Th Shyamkumar have been coordinating with the Chief Minister in decision making process and other crucial matters.

Grant-in-aid received by Manipur from the 14th Finance Commission was the smallest among all the North Eastern States and this is one primary factor for the State's poor financial position.

The State received the smallest grant-in-aid on account of the then Government's failure, he said.

All officials concerned with financial matters must work together and bring out a concrete figure on the State's Revenue before the 15th Finance Commission comes into being otherwise there is a possibility of the incumbent Government committing the same error committed by the previous Government, Surchandra said.

Even though Surchandra ruled out any possibility of by-election, he said that the eight Congress MLAs support BJP under an understanding that they would be given BJP tickets in case by-election is held.

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