IMPHAL, March 8: Just days after the announcement of the Parliamentary elction schedule, reports have emerged that five sitting MLAs of the Manipur State Congress party will be joining the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee.
A relaible source has informed the IFP that all five MLAs of the MSCP representing constituencies both in the hills and the valley are ready to change parties.
The last assembly election held in 2012 saw five candidates of the MSCP emerging triumphant out of a total of 31 candidates fielded in both valley and hills constituencies.
The regional party managed to eke out a place in the state politics with Janghemlung Panmei representing 53 Tamenglong, Nemcha Kipgen representing 50 Kangpokpi, Karam Thamarjit representing 6 Keirao, RK Imo Singh representing 11 Sagolband and Paonam Brojen representing 34 Wangjing Tentha.
The success of the MSCP in the 2012 election was the second highest of a single party after the ruling Congress. Back in 2002, there were seven MLAs elected representing the regional party. Then, also five among them had merged to the Congress.
Working president of MSCP, Kh Devabrata when approached by IFP at his Thangmeiband residence mentioned that the MLAs are also under a mandate and have to act according to the wishes of the public.
“Being in a regional party, they may feel that they cannot meet the demands of the public and rather that they have been given a step-motherly treatment by the Congress government.”
He added that it is the wish of the young MLAs to enter the Congress fold and may have been a choice taken under compulsion.
Devabrata also emphasized that there is a need to strengthen regional parties. “The regional parties know the real issue, we need leaders with vision to run the government in such a manner that a change of political leadership in Delhi will not affect Manipur,” he said.
MSCP was birthed on December 5, 1997 and have produced politicians like Govindas Konthoujam, I Hemochandra and Y Irabot and is still producing promising politicians, it is a school for young leaders, he added.
The MSCP has around 90,000 workers with offices in all districts of the State and Y Mani is the party president, Vivekraj Wangkhem is the spokesperson.
It may be mentioned that the disqualification on grounds of defection under the Tenth Amendment is a debated issue and the final say lies with the Speaker of the House.