Paonam Brojen follows in the footstep of Radheshyam
Karam Shyam BJP MLA resigns from MDS Chairmanship
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 20 2023: After Heirok AC's Th Radheshyam stepped down from the post of Advisor to the Chief Minister and Langthabal AC's Karam Shyam from the chairmanship of Tourism Corporation Limited, another BJP MLA has resigned from the post of Manipur Development Society (MDS) Chairman.

Paonam Brojen, elected from Wangjing-Tentha AC, who is currently at Delhi, dispatched his resignation letter to the Chief Minister today.

In a video clip shared through social media, Paonam Brojen said that he joined electoral politics with the primary objectives of serving the people with dedication and bring unity and development in the State.

Brojen said that he joined BJP at the invitation of Chief Minister N Biren after the BJP-led Government was installed in 2017 .

Paonam Brojen follows in the footstep of Radheshyam

"Given the fact that BJP was in power both at the Centre and the State, I was very hopeful when I joined the party.

However, no work programmes for construction of roads in Wangjing-Tentha AC were sanctioned/approved except for Tekcham and Langathel roads", he said.

At a gathering of BJP MLAs and coalition partners held in March 2021 at the Chief Minister's bungalow, the Chief Minister told the MLAs that administrative approvals had been sanctioned for construction of road in every Assembly segment.

Saying that the work orders would be issued shortly, the Chief Minister advised the MLAs to start construction of roads so that BJP and its allies could score landslide victory in the State Assembly election of 2022 .

Acting on the Chief Minister's advice, many MLAs started construction of roads through their workers and contractors.

Capturing 32 seats, BJP won absolute majority in the Assembly election of 2022 .

After the BJP Government 2.0 was formed, the Chief Minister assured that pending liabilities for construction of roads in different Assembly segments would be released.

"The Chief Minister called me in January this year and he asked me to communicate with those MLAs who constructed roads within their Assembly segments so that the pending liabilities could be released by March this year", Brojen said.

Subsequently, many BJP MLAs including L Susindro of Khurai, Th Biswajit of Thongju, Khasim Vashum of Chingai and Awangbow Newmai of Tamei submitted reports of works executed within their respective Assembly segments.

According to the reports, most MLAs had executed works amounting to around Rs five crore each.

The Works Minister suggested the Chief Minister that the liabilities for works executed in 2021 should be released at the earliest.

"At the assurance of the Chief Minister, I told the contractors, sub-contractors and workers who executed road construction works in Wangjing-Tentha AC would be released by March, but the liabilities were not released even by the end of March this year", Brojen said.

"It only created an embarrassing situation for me as I could not keep my words", he added.

Workers of many polling stations have been demanding payment of the pending liabilities saying that they executed the road construction works after pawning/mortgaging jewellery and other properties, he said in the video clip.

"I have no answer to their demand for I'm not in a position to pay the huge money from my pocket", Brojen said.

He also mentioned that the people of Wangjing-Tentha AC elected him to the Manipur State Assembly four times including one by-election.

Saying that the road construction works were executed at the advice of the Chief Minister, Paonam Brojen clarified that he was not speaking against the party (BJP) .

"When I appealed to the people of Wangjing-Tentha AC to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat, they asked me to first pay their liabilities of around Rs five crore", he said.

"As I can no longer bear the persistent plea for payment of pending liabilities, I left home since March and went to Delhi", he continued.

"Even though I am the Chairman of MDS, I don't think the MDS would be able to take up worthwhile project in any part of the State in view of the meagre fund allotted to MDS", Brojen said.

Saying that his proposal to upgrade Wangjing Lamding Municipal Council by encompassing Khongjom circle and Sapam area was approved by the Chief Minister and the State Cabinet even adopted a decision to this end, the BJP MLA decried that the file pertaining to upgradation of Wangjing Lamding Municipal Council has been still rotting at the Secretariat.

Citing a conversation with the Chief Minister, the BJP MLA disclosed that the State Government has taken loans of over Rs 20,000 crore from the Centre.

"During a meeting with the Chief Minister and five/six MLAs, I asked the Chief Minister why the Government was unable to pay pensions and pending liabilities whereas the Congress Government was able to pay salaries and take up several development works when they took a loan of Rs 6000 crore from the Centre in 2012", he recalled.

The Chief Minister replied that the loan amount of Rs 20,000 crore would be invested in new projects and the same would be paid back from the revenue earned from these projects.

On being questioned about the loan's interest, the Chief Minister stated that the interest would be paid from the State budget.

The State Government is unable to pay pending liabilities or take up new projects as a substantial portion of the State budget has gone to payment of interest, Brojen said.

"I can no longer sit at home or the MDS office because of the persistent demand from the people for payment of pending liabilities.

This personal problem has compelled me to step down from the post of MDS Chairman", Paonam Brojen said.

He, nonetheless, said that he would make all efforts to strengthen BJP in Wangjing-Tentha AC and Thoubal district.

He also pointed out that there are many voices of resentment against non-allotment of even a single Ministerial berth to Thoubal and Kakching districts which have 10 MLAs.