BJP led Govt on slippery ground, 3 BJP MLAs quit
Cong rolls up sleeves to move no trust motion 4 NPP MLAs, one AITC and one Ind MLA withdraw support
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 17 2020: In a swift development and dealing a crippling blow to the stability of the BJP led Government at Imphal, four MLAs of the NPP who are in the Council of Ministers, and who have been extending support to the BJP led Govt have resigned from the coalition Government.

Interestingly the new development has come even as the Rajya Sabha election is scheduled on June 19 with the BJP nominating Leishemba Sanjaoba as its candidate.

Making things more critical for the BJP led Government under the Chief Ministership of N Biren, three BJP MLAs have also resigned from the primary membership of the party and from the Assembly as well.

The three BJP MLAs who have quit the party are Samuel Jendai (Tamenglong AC), TT Haokip (Henglep AC) and Soibam Subashchandra (Naoria Pakhanglakpa AC) .

BJP led Govt on slippery ground, 3 BJP MLAs quit

The three BJP MLAs have tendered their resignation from the primary membership of the party to State BJP president Professor S Tikendra and as MLAs to Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand and the Secretary of the State Assembly as well.

The three MLAs said they will now support the Congress.

The four NPP Ministers who have resigned from the Council of Ministry are Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, YAS Minister Letpao Haokip, Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayanta Kumar and Fisheries Minister N Kayisii.

The lone AITC MLA T Robindro who has been supporting the BJP led coalition Government has also withdrawn support to the saffron party and pledged to support the Congress from now.

Likewise Independent MLA Md Ashabuddin who was elected from Jiribam Assembly Constituency too has withdrawn support to the BJP led Government and pledged to support the Congress.

Altogether nine MLAs who have been supporting the BJP led Government have withdrawn support and backed the Congress leaving the present BJP led Government in a shaky position.

The Congress has at present 27 MLAs and now has the support of six MLAs in a House 56 (excluding the three BJP MLAs who have resigned from the Assembly and T Shyamkumar who has resigned from the Assembly).

Rolling out the red carpet for the MLAs who have switched sides, former Chief Minister and CLP leader O Ibobi recalled that the Congress emerged as the single largest party after the Assembly elections with 28 MLAs.

It was however the BJP with only 21 MLAs which was invited to form the Government, he said and added that in the past three years the Congress has been working under its principles, said the former Chief Minister.

O Ibobi said that the party will now approach the Governor and the Speaker to convene a special session of the Assembly and a no confidence motion would be moved against the BJP led Government.

The seven MLAs against whom disqualification proceedings have been initiated from allegedly supporting the BJP led Government are technically still with the Congress, having their seats on the Opposition bench, said Ibobi.

The very fact that nine MLAs including three from the stable of the BJP have changed sides and extended support to the Congress is proof that the principles and objectives of the party are still relevant, added the former Chief Minister.

State NPP president and former MLA Thangminlien Kipgen who was at the reception function of the nine MLAs who have switched side said that the NPP decided to quit as it had lost faith in the BJP led Government.

The move to snap ties with the BJP was taken with the full backing of the party's Central leadership, he said.

The NPP and the BJP may be together at the Centre, but it is different at the State level, as situations are vastly different, he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar also of the NPP was present.

The BJP now has 18 MLAs in its kitty with three having deserted the ship.

The Naga People's Front (NPF) with four MLAs is however with the BJP.