Team News Riveting
New Delhi, August 19
Five law makers from Manipur, who recently quit Congress, today formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The switch-over inflict a big blow to the Congress that was set to form the government in Manipur but toppling BJP dispensation. The five MLAs include Okram Henry Singh, the nephew of Congress Legislature Party leader and former CM Okram Ibobi Singh.
The development in Manipur did not take place in the blink of eye; a flurry of political activities was going on in the North-eastern state for the last two months. But it was a telephone call from the Central Bureau of Investigating (CBI) that turned the tables.
The BJP made inroads in Manipur after the 11th Assembly Election which was held in 2017. Despite falling short of seats, the BJP managed to cobble its allies and got 31 seats in a legislature of 60 seats to form the government. Things took a turn after three years of the coalition government following differences between BJP and its alliance started spilling out in open.
The BJP led coalition government lost the majority after nine MLAs, including three BJP MLAs, four MLAs from the NPP, one from Trinamool Congress and an Independent MLA resigned from the party on June 17, just ahead of the Rajya Sabha election. The election to the Upper House was due on June 19. The MLAs extended their support to the Congress.
The BJP though won the Rajya Sabha seat even as Congress claimed poll code violations.
On the other hand, the Congress started the exercise to form a government under the leadership of former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. But all their hopes shattered as the former CM Ibobi Singh was summoned by the CBI in connection with an FIR registered in November 2019 for alleged misappropriation of state government funds.
This CBI call came after the Congress staked the claim before Governor Najma Heptullah to form the government. The development not only prevented Congress to form the government but also devastated those acting against the BJP-led government.
The leaders are now inching toward the BJP that had consolidated its political position with the strong support of indigenous parties. The Congress legislators “deserting” home stand testimony to it.
