IMPHAL: In a major development the BJP-led coalition government in Manipur headed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh is under crisis following nine MLAs including four NPP ministers, 3 BJP MLAs, one TMC MLA, an independent MLA of Jiribam withdrew support from the BJP led coalition Government and all of them have announced support to the Congress party.
On Wednesday, four NPP ministers namely Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayentakumar, YAS&Water Resources Letpao Haokip and Tribal Affairs & Hills development and Fisheries minister N Kayisii resigned from the Bien Government. They submitted their resignation letter to Chief Minister N Biren Singh. In a press conference the Deputy CM Y Joykumar formally announced his withdrawal from the Government.
On the other hand three ruling BJP MLAs namely S Subaschandra of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa AC, Samuel Jendai of Tamenglong AC and T Thangzalam Haokip of Henglep AC also resigned from the Primary membership of BJP. They also resigned from the membership of Manipur Legislative Assembly by submitting resignation letters to the SpeakeTrinamulTMC MLA T Robindro who is also chairman of Planning & Development Authority and Indpendent MLA from Jiribam Md Ashabuddin also have withdrawn support to the Government.
Former Chief Minister of Manipur and Congress Legislature party leader Okram Ibobi welcome the MLAs who have joined the party.
Now the effective strength of Congress is 27. The party will have more than 30 MLAs if the four MLAs from NPP, 3 BJP MLAs, lone TMC MLA and an independent MLA are clubbed together. Ikram Ibobi said that the party will stake claim to form the Government.
The 60-member Manipur Assembly has a current strength of 59 MLAs after Shyamkumar Singh of Andro assembly constituency, who had defected to the BJP from Congress, was disqualified. Notably, the Manipur High Court’s order restrained 7 defected Congress MLAs to BJP from entering to Manipur Legislative Assembly till the final disposal of the pending disqualification cases against the 7 defected Congress MLAs by the Speaker in the Speaker’s Tribunal. The High Court directed the Speaker to ensure compliance of the order.
With three BJP MLAs joining Congress, now it has 24 members in the Assembly. However former CM Okram Ibobi Singh has claimed that the effective strength of the party is now 27.
Now the strength of BJP which won 21 seats in 2017 assembly elections has reduced to 18. The party still gets the support of four MLAs of NPF.
The BJP managed to form the government after a fractured mandate in the 2017 assembly elections in the state by enjoying the support of all non-Congress MLAs — BJP (21), Naga Peoples Front (4), National People’s Party (4), TMC (1), LJP (1), 1 Independent. Later, Congress leader Shyamkumar Singh defected to BJP with seven more Congress MLAs taking the strength of the NDA to 40 members in the House.
