Imphal, August 20: A sea change in the political scenario of Manipur is likely to take place with former Chief Minister Koijam Radhabinod and a battery of other ex-MLAs and Ministers 'on the verge' of joining Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

In an exclusive chat with The Sangai Express, Koijam, who is also the former general secretary of North East People's Forum said �all my workers, sympathisers and well-wishers particularly from by Constituency have unanimously endorsed me to join NCP and a meeting in this regard was held recently".

The 68-year old political heavyweight had taken semi-retirement from politics and de-linked himself from any political parties since September, 2003.But with the next Assembly election just two years away, he exuded confN dence of setting up a strong political force to capture power in the Assembly election.

'Now, I intend to join politics full time again and am likely to join NCP which I think is the best way of serving the State and the people'', he said.

Hailing from Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency, Koijam entered politics in the late 70s and got elected as a member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly as an independent candidate and later joined the Congress party.

He has served as Minister for five terms and became the Chief Minister of the State in 2001 under the flag of Samata Party.

Elaborating on his application of mind to join NCP, Koijam said PA Sangma, who floated the NCP and later joined Trinamool Congress is likely to return to the NCP fold.

The party's national secretary Tariq Anwar has also been asked to visit the State to assess and consider the desire of many heavy weight politicians of the State to join the NCP, he added.

"We may go to New Delhi to attend a meeting in this regard on August 21," he disclosed.

He said that over 10 ex-MLAs and Ministers are also on the verge of joining NCP and some of them have even resigned from their respective political parties.

However, he declined to disclose the names of the would be NCP members.

Apart from this, a host of sitting MLAs are also likely to join NCP as soon as their present terms expire, he said, adding with optimism "I can foresee our team capturing power in the next Assembly election".

Meanwhile, former Minister Kunjo Singh and treasurer of the Opposition Federal Party of Manipur (FPM) disclosed that he along with his party workers have resigned en masse from the party.

"I have already submitted the resignation letter to the party president.

The en masse resignation followed a meeting of all my workers and well-wishers recently", he said.

However, Kunjo, declined to spell out to which party he would join saying spell out to which party he would join saying 'I'll inform you definitely within a short time and there might be a sudden political development by that time.

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