Six Kuki MLAs seek leave, Sambit Patra arrives
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 28 2023: Even as necessary arrangements for convening the 4th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Tuesday have been made, six Kuki-Zo MLAs including two ministers have sought leave from the one-day session as of Monday.

Citing different reasons, six Kuki-Zo MLAs including two ministers submitted their leave applications to the speaker.

As per provisional calendar of sitting issued by assembly secretary, the session will start from Ham Tuesday and will have obituary reference and presentation of committee report in the House, if any.

Even though 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs have reportedly decided to boycott Tuesday's assembly session in pursuance of their separate administration demand, six of them including the two ministers submitted leave application to the speaker while citing varied reasons for their inability to attend the session.

They are commerce & industries minister Nemcha Kipgen of Kangpokpi AC, YAS minister Letpao Haokip of Tengnoupal AC, Saikul MLA Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, Henglep MLA Letzamang Haokip, Churachandpur MLA LM Khaute and Saitu MLA Haokholet Kipgen.

Whether the remaining four Kuki-Zo MLAs will submit their leave applications before the session starts is yet to be ascertained.

Meanwhile, a reliable source informed that live telecast of Question Hour as usually done by DDK Imphal in the past is very much unlikely for Tuesday's session.

Among the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs de manding separate administration, seven of them belong to BJP and rest three MLAs too support BJP government led by chief minister N Biren Singh.

Meanwhile, BJP national spokersperson and Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra arrived here on Monday afternoon and immediately held talk with chief minister N Biren at the lalter's office.

Later, Sambit Patra met with BJP MLAs and MLAs of other parties supporting the BJP government and discussed strategies to defend any motion moved by Opposition in Tuesday's session.

Sambit Patra arrived here on Monday ahead of the one-day session of Manipur Legislative Assembly to be conducted on Tuesday.

Upon his arrival at Tulihal airport, he was warmly welcomed by BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sharda, Education minister Th Basanta Kumar, PHE minister L Susindro and other office bearers of the party.

Although he did not speak to the media at the airport, it is likely that came for assessing proceedings of the Assembly session on Tuesday.

After the conflict broke out on May 3, chief minister N Biren had been continuously meeting and discussing the matter with the ruling ministers and MLAs every Monday and Thursday.

On Monday, the CM again met the ruling ministers and MLAs at his Secretariat around 6pm, which was also attended by Sambit Patra.

Mention may be made here that there is still apprehension on whether the session on Tuesday would be held smoothly.

Opposition leader and Manipur Legislative Assembly Business Advisory Committee member Okram Ibobi had suggested for the session to be extended for five days.

However, the other BAC members in the ruling did not support his proposal, following which the decision was taken to hold the session for a day only.

There is also the concern that the one-day session will not be able to fully facilitate discussion on important issues related to the conflict, which has been on-going for nearly four months now.

So far, five Kuki MLAs have requested for leave from attending the assembly session, while the remaining five Kuki MLAs are likely to send in their written requests ahead of the session on Tuesday.

Many senior politicians and different political parties have also opined that the fourth session of the state Assembly is being conducted in violation of the Rules of Procedure and Code of Conduct of Business.

Thus, it is quite likely that BJP Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra is in Imphal in view of possible problems with regard to the conduct of the Assembly session on Tuesday.

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