Cong executives tender resignation

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, May 29, 2019: Twelve Congress MLAs today tendered for resignation from their respective posts in the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) to work at the grassroot level to strengthen the party.

The MLAs decision came with the losing of the two Lok Sabha seats of Manipur in the recent parliamentary election.

“We decided to leave our posts on moral ground as we office bearers of MPCC are responsible for not winning the Lok Sabha elections in both the Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur constituencies. We have to find out our mistakes and work hard to strengthen the party from the grassroot level,”  vice-president (VP) of MPCC Kh. Kishan told reporters in a news conference here.

The eleven others who tendered resignation were N. Loken (VP), Md. Abdul Nasir (VP), D.D. Thaisii (VP), Chaltonlien Amo (VP),  Govindas Konthoujam (CLP chief whip), K. Ranjit (treasurer), Alfred Kanggam Arthur (general secretary), (9) D.K. Korungthang (CLP secretary) (10) R.K. Imo (general secretary), K. Meghachandra (general secretary)and Fazur Rahim (Minority Cell chairman).

“If we keep concentrating at the state level it would find hard to rebuild or strengthen the party. We need to find our mistakes and reconstruct the party strength from the grassroot level”, Ratan said.

“We realise the responsibility of losing the two seats that was hold by Congress. So, I decided resign on moral ground as chief whip of CLP”, Govindas said.

Clarifying against media publications of Congress MLAs to leave the party and join BJP in different groups, Govindas said it was an intention to mislead the 20 Congress MLAs who stands solid for Congress and we will never join BJP.

In the last state Assembly elections Congress won 28 seats and eight power hungry MLAs ran away to support BJP, Ranjit said.

The BJP-led government at the Centre may be good for the nation. But it is unfortunate for Manipur which has unsolved issues of Framework Agreement, Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, border dispute, etc. The BJP has firm stance to pass the citizenship amendment bill in July. People of the Northeast especially Manipur have been opposing it. So does the Congress since its introduction, Ratan said.

The BJP was successful in the election after campaigning beyond secularism. People who didn’t vote for BJP are the majority and they are those whi oppose the bill. If the bill is implemented who will safeguard Manipur people. “We will continue to oppose the bill that challenges the existence of indigenous people of Manipur”, he added.

“We left our posts today to organise movements with Congress workers at the ground level”, Kishan said.

“If the publications of joining Congress MLAs are true we are like supporters of the citizenship bill. On what interest we are going to join BJP when NE is going to be burnt by the bill, Ratan said. “We will forever protect the people’s mandate in the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections”, he added.