Mangibabu bares fangs at Speaker
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 26 2020:
The recent conduct of Speaker Yumnam Khemchand just before the Rajya Sabha election will remain written in red ink in the history of Manipur, said Congress' candidate Tongbram Mangibabu who lost the election to titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba.
The Congress had the numbers in their favour but the "misuse" of power by the Speaker "against" the sanctity of the Legislative Assembly had turned the tide in BJP's favour, claimed T Mangibabu.
It may be noted that Leishemba Sanajaoba had defeated T Mangibabu by 28-24 votes in the election for the State's lone Rajaya seat on June 19.Just hours before the election, the Speaker had disqualified four MLAs including three from Congress namely Yengkhom Surchandra (Kakching Assembly Constituency), Ksh Biren (Lamlai AC) and S Bira (Kumbi AC) and AITC's T Robindro (Thanga AC) under the anti-defection law.
Speaking to media persons during a press conference at Congress Bhavan today, T Mangibabu thanked and expressed gratitude to the 24 MLAs who voted in favour of him and all well wishers who gave him moral support.
"Win or lose is part of democratic process of election.
I am not upset that I lost the election.
We had a very good chance of winning the election.
We had the numbers until the Speaker intervened and turned the tide," he said, terming the conduct of the Speaker as "painting black ink on the faces of the legislators" .
"The Speaker had misused the power of his chair against the sanctity of the Assembly and against the honour of the legislators of the house.
This incident will be written in red ink in the history of Manipur," he said.
T Mangibabu further alleged that the Speaker had disqualified AITC MLA T Robindro without any proper proceedings.
In addition, out of the seven MLAs facing disqualification cases, only three who were going to vote in "favour" of Congress were disqualified, he alleged adding the conduct of the Speaker was "unbecoming" as the custodian of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.