Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 30:
Reacting to the assertion of State BJP unit chief and former Manipur State Congress Party president Th Chaoba that Election Commission of India has approved merger of MSCP with BJP, the present MSCP president M Hemanta today said that it is far from the truth and meant to mislead the people.
Addressing a press conference at his residence today, Hemanta said that MSCP had never merged with BJP and the ruling given by Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner TS Krishnamurthy on December 30, 2003 proves this fact.
The said ruling made it clear that Th Chaoba and some of his followers have joined the BJP and the Election Commission has not issued any more ruling after that, he pointed out.
Hemanta asserted that the present MSCP is the real MSCP and it is the one founded by the then Chief Minister W Nipamacha.
Party spokesman Kh Debabratta who was also present at the occasion said after the December 30, 2003 ruling of the Election Commission, the MSCP has become a registered and recognised party.
Even if the Election Commissioner has put a ban on the use of the party symbol on the basis that MSCP has no elected MLAs, the MSCP is still a recognised and registered party, he noted.
As per the rule, the symbol of �Cultivator Cutting Crop�, cannot be used by any party for the next 6 years.