CM Biren rushes to Delhi for his chair

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh along with four officials rushed to Delhi on a chartered flight two days before the commencement of the Manipur Legislative Assembly budget session.

Biren chaired a meeting at his secretariat, here before he left to meet BJP central leaders.

Sources said 21 legislators in the Biren led government including Kashim Vasum, H. Dingo, Dipu Gangmei, S. Premchandra, K. Shyam, Awanbou Newmai, U. Deven, S. Ranjan  Th. Basanta, Govindas Konthoujam, L. Susindro, Kh. Ibomcha , S. Kunjakeswor, Th. Shyamkumar, Leishiyo Keishing, Th. Biswajit, J. Kumosa, Th. Shanti, RK Imo, S. Kebi and Abdul Nasir, attended the meeting.

Legislators including Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Yumnam Khemchand, Th. Radheshyam, T. Robindro, and L. Rameshwor, were absent.

As the meeting was reportedly not related to the upcoming budget session, only 11 MLAs attended till end, though their names were not disclosed by the source.

As per the schedule of the chartered flight, CM Biren was set to depart for Delhi at 6:30 pm on Saturday and return to Imphal at around 12:30 am on Monday.

This development came in the midst of Congress readiness to move for No Confidence Motion in the 7th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly is scheduled to commence on February 10 (Monday).

Earlier on Wednesday, CM Biren and seven MLAs travelled to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. They returned home without meeting him.

Meanwhile, a highly reliable source reported that some MLAs also held a joint meeting in an undisclosed location in Imphal on Saturday.

An MLA , speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We want to change the leader, as many MLAs in the Biren-led government are dissatisfied. We will accept any MLA as the new chief minister of Manipur.”

Meanwhile, the fate of five MLAs, who were elected on Janata Dal (United) tickets but later joined the BJP, remains in the hands of the Manipur Assembly Speaker, as the judgment in their disqualification case has been reserved.

The final hearing for the case was conducted on Friday at the Speaker’s Tribunal, marking the last step in a legal battle that has been ongoing since 2022.

The hearing, which began at 11:30 am on Saturday, lasted about three hours.

The five defected MLAs facing disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-Defection Law) are Khumukcham Joykisan (Thangmeiband AC), Ngursanglur Sanate (Tipaimukh AC), Md Ashab Uddin (Jiribam AC), Thangjam Arunkumar (Wangkhei AC), L. M. Khaute (Churachandpur AC).

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, M. Bhupenda, argued that the five MLAs had defected from JD(U) to BJP and should therefore be disqualified. He urged the Speaker’s Tribunal to take appropriate action under the anti-defection law.

The case was filed by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice-president Hareshwar Goswami, with two additional petitions from M. Dorendro and M. Surjit against MLA Kh. Joykisan.

With the final hearing concluded, the Speaker has reserved the judgment.

Following the hearing, petitioner’s counsel N. Bhupenda said, “Justice has been long overdue. Now it is up to the Speaker to decide whether these MLAs should be disqualified.”

All eyes are now on the Speaker, as the verdict could significantly impact Manipur’s political landscape.

If the five MLAs are disqualified, by-elections will be held to fill their seats.