New Delhi: After the resignation of nine MLAs of the BJP-led coalition government, including four ministers in Manipur, the newly formed Secular Progressive Front (SPF) led by the Congress has claimed to form the government in the state.
A team of Congress, National People’s Party (NPP) and Trinamool Congress MLAs led by former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh met Governor Najma Heptulla on Thursday afternoon seeking the replacement of the BJP-led coalition.
Mr Singh pointed out that the Congress has 20 MLAs with seven of its lawmakers barred from entering the House by the High Court of Manipur while the strength of the BJP is 18 after the resignation of three of its MLAs, reducing the effective strength of the House to 49 with another Congress MLA – former Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar – having been disqualified earlier for defecting to the BJP.
The present Ministry has 23 MLAs with four from the Naga People’s Front and one of Lok Janshakti Party compared to 26 of the Congress with the support of four NPP, a Trinamool Congress and an Independent MLA, he added.
“In the event of the Speaker’s Tribunal ruling in favour of the seven Congress MLAs (against whom the Congress had sought legal action for supporting the BJP), the effective strength of the House rises to 56 and the SPF will command 33 MLAs while the BJP will have 23,” Mr Singh said, justifying the no-confidence vote against the Biren Ministry.
