In a blow to the Congress ahead of by-elections in Manipur, four of its leaders including incumbent vice president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) N Mangi Singh and MPPC spokesperson O Nabakishore joined the ruling BJP on Monday.
They joined the ruling party in the presence of chief minister N Biren Singh and party state unit president Prof S Tiken in a simple function held at the durbar hall of the chief minister’s secretariat. The two other leaders are former minister A Biren Singh and Kebisana.
O Nabakishore, former chief secretary of Manipur, joined the Congress to mark his entry into politics and contested the last Lok Sabha election from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency on Congress ticket, while, N Mangi Singh, former minister, was a leader of the CPI who switched to the BJP in 2016 and later joined the Congress in 2018. He switched to the saffron party once again on Monday.Â
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister N Biren Singh expressed his belief that the Congress leaders coming to BJP will give an impetus on the November 7 by-poll in the five Assembly constituencies in the state. Terming the leaders as prominent leaders of the Congress party, the chief minister assured that BJP will give them maximum opportunities to serve the people. He also said that they came to the BJP knowing the pulses of the people.
With a strong confidence, the chief minister said that BJP and its allies will win all the five Assembly constituencies where by-elections will be held on November 7.
Regarding the party’s position in respect of Lilong Assembly constituencies where the BJP had not named any person as its candidate for the upcoming by-poll, Singh said that the party will ally with another party in this constituency.
Mention may be made that BJP had announced names of the four candidates who will be contesting on party ticket even as by-polls are to be held in five Assembly constituencies.
NNN