Few months ahead of Assembly polls next year Govindas joins BJP
More Cong MLAs to follow: N Biren
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 01 2021: In a major political development and dealing a big blow to the Congress, former Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president, Govindas Konthoujam joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, today.

Govindas first quit as the president of MPCC (I), then resigned from the primary membership of the Congress and stepped down as an MLA representing Bishnupur Assembly Constituency.

The latest move of Govindas is crucial, coming as it has just months away from the next Assembly elections scheduled in the early part of next year.

According to the Chief Minister, more Congress MLAs will follow suit and join the saffron party shortly.

In a simple function held at BJP headquarters at New Delhi, Govindas who resigned as an MLA and from the primary membership of Congress was welcomed to the party fold by in charge of BJP, State unit Dr Sambit Patra; MoS Dr RK Ranjan; MP Leishemba Sanajaoba; Chief Minister N Biren Singh and BJP State unit president A Sharda Devi among others.

On the occasion, Govindas said that he will work his best to ensure BJP wins absolute majority in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

He also said that people of the North East region are placing more faith in the BJP led Government at both the Centre and the State.

N Biren stated that induction of five Parliamentarians from North East India including Dr RK Ranjan as a Union Minister is a clear indication of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National leaders working for the development of the region.

Saying that Govindas Konthoujam is a close friend of his and a colleague in the then Congress Government in Manipur, Biren added that Govindas was supposed to join the saffron party with him together but was delayed due to some reasons.

Though delayed, his (Govindas) entry to the BJP is a boon for the party, the Chief Minister said and added that more Congress MLAs are likely to join the BJP shortly.

Continuing that the BJP has brought peace to the once violence-torn State, Biren claimed that Manipur is now heading towards the era of development.

He also thanked the Central leaders for implementing the Inner Liner Permit System in the State to keep the ethnic identity of the indigenous people intact.

Dr Sambit Patra , who is also the National spokesperson of BJP, praised six-time MLA from Bishnupur Govindas Konthoujam as an esteemed and influential politician of the North East region.

Later, N Biren Singh and Govindas along with other BJP leaders called on party president JP Nadda to seek guidance in strengthening the party.

Govindas Konthoujam is a veteran political figure having been elected from Bishnupur Assembly Constituency six times in a row since 1995 .

Govindas' association with the Congress dates back to 1985 when he formally joined the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee.

The next Assembly election is scheduled in the early part of 2022 .

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