Imphal: The five Manipur MLAs who recently joined the BJP justified today that their decision of leaving the Janata Dal (United) was triggered by the breaking up of ties between the two political parties at the national level.
Four of the five MLAs who left the JD(U) to join the BJP returned to Imphal from New Delhi along with chief minister N Biren Singh.
On his arrival at Imphal Airport, reporters tried to interact with the chief minister. However, he avoided the media and headed straight to his official residence.
The four MLAs, however, faced the media and said that since JD(U) is no longer a partner of the BJP-led NDA, they decided to leave the party to join the BJP.
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All of them said that they were elected on the mandate of the NDA through JD(U). As the JD(U) is no longer a partner of the NDA, they have to leave the party.
“Because we are elected on the mandate of the NDA and that is why we have joined the BJP. As the JD(U) has withdrawn from the NDA we have no option,” Kh Jaykishan, the former JD(U) legislature leader in the Manipur Assembly said.
To another query regarding a rumor about offering a cabinet berth to one of the five MLAs, Jaykishan said, “I don’t have any idea on the matter. We have no discussion about the matter and there is no pre-condition from our side.”
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“What we are doing is right. That is why the Speaker has approved.”
Mention may be made here that the Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly granted his acceptance to the “merger” of the five JD(U) legislators to the legislature party of the BJP.
MLA LM Khaute and Thangjam Arunkumar also gave the same comment regarding the reason for leaving the JD(U) and joining the BJP and added that they joined the BJP in the interest of the NDA. (NNN)
On the other hand, according to ANI, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar was quoted saying, “When we parted ways from NDA, all our six Manipur MLAs came and met us and assured us they were with JD(U). We need to think about what’s going on. They are breaking away the MLAs from the parties, is it constitutional?… Opposition will unify for 2024 elections.”
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