Imphal: The Manipur Congress on Monday filed disqualification petitions against four National People’s Party (NPP) MLAs at the Speaker’s Tribunal of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Manipur Congress vice-president Hareshwar Goshwami filed four separate petitions against the MLAs for extending support to the BJP-led government, despite the party officially severing ties with the ruling front two months ago.
Bupenda Meitei, an advocate at the High Court of Manipur, stated that his client, Hareshwar Goshwami, filed the petitions against the four NPP MLAs for extending support to the BJP-led state government.
This includes their participation in a meeting convened by the Chief Minister for ruling MLAs, despite the NPP National President and the party having already withdrawn support to the BJP government in Manipur.
“Citing the Meghachandra case in the Supreme Court for deciding pending disqualification petitions within three months of the date of filing of such petitions, he (Goswami) expressed confidence that the Speaker would dispose of the disqualification pleas expeditiously,” Meitei said.
The four NPP MLAs in question are Mayanglambam Rameshwar Singh of the Kakching Assembly Constituency, Thongam Shanti Singh of the Moirang Assembly Constituency, Irengbam Nalini Devi of the Oinam Assembly Constituency, and Janghemlung Panmei of the Tamenglong Assembly Constituency.
Last year, these four MLAs attended an NDA meeting, despite the NPP’s directive for its members not to attend any future meetings called by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
The NPP, on November 17 last year, withdrew support to the BJP-led government in violence-hit Manipur, claiming that the N Biren Singh dispensation “completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy” in the northeastern state.
The NPP, which is an ally of the BJP, has clarified that it will resume supporting the Manipur government only if N. Biren Singh is replaced as Chief Minister.
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The NPP had seven MLAs in the 60-member Manipur assembly, and the withdrawal of support did not affect the stability of the government, as the BJP enjoyed absolute majority in the House with 32 legislators.
