Imphal, December 13: Putting an end to all speculations, RK Dorendra, who is not just one of the prominent leaders of the Opposition but also the leader of the BJP Legislature Wing has resigned from both BJP National Executive and primary membership of the party.

With the submission of an official letter tendering his resignation from the primary membership of the party to the State unit party president Dr Haobam Borbabu, the former Chief Minister of the State is gearing up to join the Congress or any other National parties which is in power at the Centre. A copy of his resignation letter has also been reportedly forwarded to the Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly where he is also the Chairman of the Committee on Privileges.

A meeting of the Yaiskul BJP Mandal and other well-wishers held on December 10 at his Yaiskul residence had advised him to resign from BJP and contest in the forthcoming 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly election by joining any of the political parties which are in power.

Dorendra himself had declared that he does not like to remain in BJP any more.

Dorendra was inducted in BJP through the then party's National general secretary Kushabau Thakre while BJP-led NDA Government was in power at the Centre.

No information on the acceptance of the resignation of Dorendra from the primary membership by the State unit party president has been received till the time of filing this report.

If his resignation is accepted then the Assembly Secretariat would issue a bulletin and there is the possibility of his disqualification from being an MLA.

Disqualification would also entail holding the by-election of Yaiskul Assembly Election within six months to fill up the vacant seat.

However, according to opinions doing the round in the political circle, the holding of by-election is unlikely and it would be clubbed with the election to the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly which is slated to be held about two months from now.

Although Dorendra has resigned from BJP, there are differences of opinions between two groups on whether he should be allowed to rejoin the Congress or not.

Yaiskul Block Congress Committee had already made known its reservation against joining of Dorendra to Congress party.

Talking to The Sangai Express after submitting his resignation letter, Dorendra said he decided to resign from BJP as he wanted to enjoy some political respite from being an MLA for some time.

To a direct question on when he would join the Congress party, the seasoned politician said he would be going to New Delhi very soon to meet the important leaders of AICC.

He claimed that apart from the Congress, other National parties which are in power at the Centre have extended invitation to him for joining their respective parties.

But no definite decision on joining any of the parties has been taken, he said, adding it would be decided very soon.

When requested to name the National parties which have invited him to join, Dorendra maintained it would be too early to disclose the names of the parties.

It is for the third times that Dorendra has resigned from being an MLA before completing his term.

He had earlier resigned before completing his term in 1979 and 1988.

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