Biren Govt should prove majority: O Joy
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 21 2020:
The demand put before Governor Dr Najma Heptulla to convene a special session of the State Assembly to discuss a no confidence motion against the Biren-led Government was something uncalled for, asserted veteran politician O Joy.
Speaking to media persons today, O Joy said that it is the duty of the Governor to see that Chief Minister N Biren shows his strength in the State Assembly in the wake of the recent political developments.
Even if the Governor does not initiate any such move, N Biren should prove that his Government is still supported by the majority, Joy said.
He recalled that Congress won 28 seats, BJP 21, NPP 4, NPF 4, AITC 1, LJP 1 and Independent 1 in the State Assembly election held in 2017 and there was no pre-poll alliance.
It is an accepted parliamentary practice for the Governor to invite the single largest party to form Government but Dr Najma invited BJP to form Government.
After a coalition Government led by BJP was formed with N Biren as the Chief Minister, the Government proved its majority on March 20, 2017.Even though both NPP and NPF have four MLAs each in the coalition Government, NPP must be acknowledged as the second largest party of the coalition as the post of Deputy Chief Minister was allotted to an NPP legislator, Joy claimed.
On June 17 last, NPP, AITC and the Independent MLAs withdrew from the coalition.
Moreover, three BJP MLAs resigned from the party as well as from the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
All the MLAs who came out from the BJP-led coalition joined Congress on the same day and Secular Progressive Front (SPF) was re-constituted.
Further, the three MLAs who resigned from BJP joined Congress.
Motion of confidence and no confidence motion are like two sides of a coin.
While motion of confidence is moved by the Government, no confidence motion is generally moved by Opposition, O Joy elaborated.
It is a parliamentary for a coalition Government to move motion of confidence if any of its coalition partners withdraws support to the Government.
As NPP, AITC and the Independent MLAs have withdrawn their support to the coalition Government, either the Chief Minister or the Governor should move of motion of confidence in the State Assembly otherwise the incumbent Government is as good as dead, Joy asserted.