Cong defectors to BJP still Cong MLAs ?
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 03 2017:
The five Congress MLAs who joined the new BJP coalition Government led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, sat in the Opposition side during the Assembly sessions showing that they are still Congress MLAs and thereby raising a question on their status, party wise.
It may be mentioned that MLAs Ngamthang Haokip, Y Surchandra, S Bira and O Lukhoi who won the 11th State Assembly election as Congress candidates defected to BJP on April 28.Singhat A/C MLA Ginsuanhao had also joined BJP after winning on the Congress ticket.
Andro A/C MLA, Th Shyamkumar, who had won through the party ticket, was also sworn in as a Minister during the oath taking ceremony of CM N Biren and his Council of Ministers.
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Speaking to The Sangai Express, MLA Y Surchandra, who had defected to BJP, said that although the six MLAs joined BJP they are still Congress MLAs.
He pointed out that MLA Th Shyamkumar sat in the ruling side during the Assembly session because he holds a Ministerial post and also due to the disqualification case levelled against him by the Congress party.
Even though the remaining five MLAs have joined BJP, the party has not notified whether they have been enrolled or not and the Congress party has not expelled them yet.
He clarified that the Congress MLAs who defected to BJP all voted for BJP in the Rajya Sabha election and the Congress party did not urge them to vote for its representative, Dwijamani.
Surchandra further conveyed that he sat on the Opposition side only because he was still a Congress MLA but assured that he would support every Bill and proposal tabled by the ruling party in the Assembly session.
When asked if the Congress MLAs who joined BJP gave their signatures while joining the BJP party, MLA Surchandra did not provide a tangible reply and as such it could not be ascertained if indeed the MLAs gave their signatures or not.
But on the other hand, MLA O Lukhoi claimed that there has not been any instance of giving their signature which implied their inclusion in the BJP party.
It may be noted that during the welcome ceremony of MLAs Ginsuanhao, Y Surchandra, Ngamthang Haokip, S Bira and O Lukhoi held at BJP office, it was announced that they are now part of the BJP party.