"Form Govt with or without Kuki MLAs"
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 10 2025: Former Speaker and Congress MLA Thokchom Lokeshwar has urged the ruling MLAs to form an elected Government with or without the Kuki MLAs.

Speaking at the inaugural function of Ima Yumjao Lairembi temple at Sagolband Heinoupok today, Lokeshwar said that the ruling parties have 54 MLAs and if the 10 Kuki MLAs are not interested in forming a popular Government, the remaining 44 MLAs can comfortably form a Government.

He then urged the 44 MLAs to elect a leader and form a popular Government in order to save Manipur before it is too late.

The letter written by a group of ruling MLAs seeking concurrence of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to installation of a popular Government in Manipur is rather amazing, he remarked.

The letter portrayed the MLAs and their parties as ignorant of how Governments are formed.

If BJP and its allies which have more than enough MLAs to form a Government are determined to install a popular Government, they should go to the Governor, the former Speaker said.

After the expiry of a ruling MLA, the ruling parties have 54 MLAs.

Even if the 10 Kuki MLAs are left out of the picture, they still have 44 MLAs in the House of 60 Members.

As such, they can comfortably form a popular Government in place of the President's Rule, he asserted.

With BJP unable to form a Government after the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren, people have been suffering a lot under the President's Rule, he said.

People expected solution, peace and free movement on National Highways from the President's Rule but the Central rule has failed miserably to fulfil any of these expectations, the Congress MLA said.

Had there been enough MLAs with the Congress party to form a Government, it would do everything to form a popular Government.

In case the Central leaders raise objection to formation of a popular Government, the Congress MLAs would resign from the party.

Saving Manipur is paramount, politics is secondary, Lokeshwar said.

He said, "What is the point of serving as MLAs when Manipur has broken apart?" He appealed to the BJP MLAs and MLAs of the ruling parties to work in the interest of the people and the State instead of engaging in activities which look like power struggle.

Even though Manipur has been literally burning for the past two years with hundreds of people killed and thousands of houses burnt down, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has never bothered to visit the State.

It is this sheer indifference of Narendra Modi which is keeping Manipur on fire, the Congress MLA said.

He asserted that BJP does not suit to the soil of Manipur.

He also highlighted the several public welfare programmes undertaken by former MLA AK Mirabai in Patsoi AC before and when she was serving as an MLA.

Former MLAs Okram (ongbi) Landhoni and AK Mirabai too spoke at the function.

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