Cong MLA smells rat over Patra's visit
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 12 2025: Congress MLA and former speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Lokeshwar has expressed doubts about the intentions of BJP national leader Sambit Patra's visit to the state and asked if he (Sambit) came to destabilise Manipur under the garb of resolving rift among the party legislators.

Addressing media persons at his Babupara quarters on Wednesday, Lokeshwar said Sambit Patra's visit to the state coincided with Governor's declaration of 'null and void' the 7th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, which was scheduled to commence from February 10.He referred to reports that Sambit Patra came to Manipur for resolving differences among BJP legislators in the wake of the resignation of chief minister N Biren and appoint a new leader.

"If Sambit Patra really loved Manipur, he should have appointed a new leader to replace N Biren and sorted out means to convene assembly session so as to avert constitutional crisis," he observed, while pointing out that the visiting BJP national leader is neither naming Biren's successor nor interacting with the media to update on the political development thereby leaving people of the state in dark about convening assembly session.

"If the assembly session is not convened soon, it would be deemed 'null and void' and accordingly the state would be under President's Rule or animated suspension," Lokeshwar further cautioned, adding that such a situation would be unprecedented for any state or government.

"Any unwanted incidents arising out of imposition of President's Rule or animated suspension should be the responsibility of BJP and those supporting the party," he forewarned.

According to Lokeshwar, the state is yet to face constitutional crisis as the BJP is still commanding comfortable majority to form a new government.

If resignation of chief minister N Biren was due to law and order issue, then such step could have taken long time back, he said and strongly alleged that shelving the assembly session just one day before its commencement indicates Centre's total disregard for the people of Manipur.

He said the Congress party had planned to move private member resolution in the state assembly to highlight pressing issues particularly resolution to the crisis, policy for village volunteers and return of displaced persons to their respective homes.

However, BJP and its allies have cut short Congress party's plan as assembly session had been declared 'null and void' and such abrupt cancellation of assembly session even after being scheduled happened nowhere in the world and any state of the country, he added.

Expressing deep concern over the state's current political situation, Lokeshwar questioned if the Government of India intentionally created the situation to prolong the violence in the state.

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