NPP MLAs will now sit on Opposition Bench: Speaker
'Cannot share all details of meeting with Amit Shah'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 02 2025: Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata has categorically stated that MLAs of National People's Party (NPP) will sit on Opposition bench in the forthcoming Assembly session which commences on February 10 .

Together with MANI-REDA Chairman Kong- kham Robindro and PDA Chairman Lourembam Rameshwar, Th Satyabrata today inaugurated a newly constructed multipurpose hall at Mayang Imphal Thana Awang Leikai.

Replying to queries raised by media persons by the sideline of the inaugural function, the Speaker made it clear that NPP MLAs would sit on the Opposition bench.

In the same vein, the Speaker said that he cannot disclose all the details of his recent meeting Home Minister Amit Shah at Delhi.

NPP MLAs will now sit on Opposition Bench: Speaker

Although NPP is a partner of NDA, the NPP president has officially announced that the party has withdrawn its support to the Biren Government.

Moreover, a missive has been received from the NPP president which asked to seat the NPP MLAs on the Opposition bench, Satyabrata said.

He added that people know very well which parties are in the ruling coalition and which are in Opposition.

On being enquired about the disqualification petitions filed by Congress party against five NPP MLAs under the Constitution's 10th Schedule, the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker maintained that it is too early to speak anything about the matter to the media.

The petitions would be examined minutely, he added.

The five NPP MLAs against whom disqualification petitions have been filed are Kh Loken (Wangoi AC), Thongam Shanti (Moirang AC), I Nalini (Oinam AC), Janghemlung Panmei (Tamenglong AC) and Mayanglambam Rame-shwar (Kakching AC) .

On being enquired about his recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Delhi, Satyabrata said that the meeting deliberated on working out a reconciliation among the ruling legislators who appear to be divided.

"I have seen different reports published in some newspapers/media about my meeting with Amit Shah based on their assessment or imagination although I did not talk to any media about the meeting.

But everyone knows the reason for the meeting", the Speaker said.

Given the apparent rift or conflict among the MLAs, Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave suggestions to hold the forthcoming Assembly session smoothly and peacefully, he said.

While maintaining that there was no special reason for the meeting, the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker said that he cannot share all the details of his meeting with the Union Home Minister to the media.

On being enquired about the hint/indication he gave during his speech at the inaugural function of the multipurpose hall that Kongkham Robindro may soon get a Cabinet berth if he is lucky, Satyabrata said that he was not hinting at anything.

"I was only appreciating the development works undertaken by Kongkham Robindro for his Assembly segment.

I was saying that Kongkham Robindro deserves a Cabinet berth if there is a Ministry reshuffle," Satyabrata clarified.

On being asked if there is any possibility of a Ministry reshuffle, the Speaker said, "I said if there is Ministry reshuffle" .

Notably, the multipurpose hall inaugurated today was constructed by MLA Kongkham Robindro.