12 Cong MLAs step down from party's post
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 29 2019:
Taking responsibilities for the Congress party's failure to retain the State's two Lok Sabha seats, as many as 12 Congress MLAs have resigned from their respective party posts.
Even as the 12 MLAs claimed that they resigned from their respective MPCC posts so that they can work at the grassroots level and strengthen the party, sources informed that the resignation is prompted by the MLAs' declining confidence in the CLP leader and is a first step towards replacing CLP leader Okram Ibobi.
On the other hand, MPCC president Gaikhangam maintained that it is not MPCC but AICC which may or may not accept the resignation of the 12 MLAs from their respective posts.
He further conveyed that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) has fully authorised AICC president Rahul Gandhi to restructure the party in any manner he deems fit and strengthen the party.
Meanwhile, a meeting of all office bearers of Congress party has been convened tomorrow but whether the 12 MLAs who have resigned from their respective posts would attend the meeting is doubtful.
Following the resignation of the 12 MLAs, Mirabai and Gaikhangam are the only two MLAs left who are holding some posts of the party.
The 12 MLAs who have resigned from their respective posts are N Loken (MPCC vice president), Dr Chaltonlien Amo (VP), Md Abdul Nasir (VP), Kh Joykisan (VP), DD Thaisii (VP), RK Imo (Gen Secy), K Meghachandra (Gen Secy), Alfred Arthur (Gen Secy), Govindas Konthoujam (CLP Chief Whip), DK Korungthang (CLP Secretary), K Ranjit (MPCC Treasurer) and Fazur Rahim (MPCC Minority Cell Secretary).
At the same time, there is a possibility of some Congress MLAs joining hands with fellow party MLAs who are supporting BJP to float a new party, sources said.
Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here today after tendering their resignation, Govindas Konthoujam recalled that Congress party emerged as the single largest party in the last State Assembly election by winning 28 seats.
Even as eight Congress MLAs switched allegiance and supported the BJP led coalition Government, there is no discord among the remaining 20 MLAs and there is no question of defecting to BJP.
"We resigned from our respective posts taking responsibility for the party's failure to retain any of the State's two Lok Sabha seats", Govindas said.
He said that they would work at the grassroots level in order to strengthen the party.
K Ranjit too ruled out any possibility of the remaining 20 Congress MLAs defecting to BJP.
He said that they resigned from their respective PCC posts on moral ground but it does not mean the 12 MLAs are deserting the party.
The BJP Government at the Centre may be good for the country but it is not suitable to the soil of Manipur.
Through its election manifesto, BJP pledged to enact the Citizenship Amendment Bill and there is nagging apprehension that the indigenous people of Manipur may be wiped out once the CAB is enacted.
As such, joining BJP under such circumstances would be tantamount to extending support to CAB, Ranjit said.
However, sources said that Congress party's defeat in the Lok Sabha election is not the main factor for the resignation of the 12 MLAs.
Their resignation is aimed at replacing CLP leader O Ibobi and MPCC president Gaikhangam.
Many MLAs have been concealing a strong sense of discontentment since MPCC president TN Haokip was replaced by Gaikhangam in the run up to the Lok Sabha election, said the sources.
Following the Congress party's debacle in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, AICC has instructed all PCCs not to give any key posts to senior Congress members who are above 60.It was in the backdrop of this instruction that the 12 MLAs raised a banner of revolt against Ibobi and Gaikhangam with an objective to replace both of them, according to the sources.
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