Engrossed in power struggle, BJP leaves governance in shambles: MPCC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 29 2019:
With the arena for power struggle among BJP legislators now shifted to Delhi, there are just two/three Cabinet Ministers at Imphal which is a clear testimony that the BJP-led coalition Government has abandoned its duty of governing the State, asserted MPCC president Gaikha-ngam.
Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here today, Gaikhangam, who is also a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), appealed to all BJP legislators to reconcile their differences and focus their attention to governance in the interest of the State even if it is an internal matter of the party.
It is a matter of grave concern that almost all the Ministers and MLAs are camping at Delhi leaving the State with no care-taker, he rued.
Saying that deep-rooted political and financial discords within the coalition Government have been exposed before the whole world, Gaikhangam decried that the power struggle which has been raging for weeks is not at all in the interest of the State.
It appears that all BJP Ministers and MLAs are driven by self-interests.
They should not forget that the political crisis is being observed minutely by the people of the State, he said.
All the 60 MLAs are elected by the people to serve the people.
But a large number of the MLAs have been overlooking their fundamental duty in pursuit of personal interests, he asserted.
Abstinence from Cabinet meetings by Ministers is not a good sign and it is against general rules and norms.
As for the recent Cabinet meeting from which maximum Ministers stayed away, it was a clear message that they do not have any faith in the Government's leader.
Dragging the power struggle for long would not be right.
There should be proper governance in the State which at present seems to be drifting with no authority to govern it, Gaikhangam said.
On being enquired about the seven Congress MLAs who are supporting BJP, the MPCC president pointed out that the State Assembly has not yet published any bulletin about joining BJP by the seven Congress MLAs.
As per the 10th Schedule, rise or fall of a party's strength should be notified by publishing bulletins but no such bulletin has been published by the Manipur Legislative Assembly, he said.
As for the 8th Congress MLA who has been sitting on treasury bench as a Minister of the coalition Government, there is no argument to the fact that he has defected to BJP.
It is also rather surprising that the seven Congress MLAs are still sitting on Opposition bench even though they have been supporting BJP for the last two years.
It appears that the 10th Schedule has been rendered toothless in the State, Gaikhangam remarked.
Saying that the enquiry instituted against withdrawal of huge amounts when Lok Sabha election model code of conduct was in force might have been completed now, Gaikhangam demanded the Government to place the enquiry report in public domain instead of
concealing it.