Synopsis
The Manipur Assembly Speaker’s tribunal issued notices to four NPP MLAs in an anti-defection case, requiring them to provide written comments and attend a February 12 hearing. This follows a petition by Congress leader Hareshwar Goswami seeking their disqualification for supporting the BJP despite NPP withdrawing its support last year.
AgenciesGuwahati: The Manipur Assembly Speaker’s tribunal issued notices to four National People’s Party (NPP) MLAs in the anti-defection case, and asked to furnish written comments by February 11.
The tribunal also asked the MLAs to attend the hearing on February 12, officials said on Thursday.
An Assembly official said that the notice was issued to the four NPP legislators following Manipur state Congress Vice-President Hareshwar Goswami’s petition before the tribunal seeking disqualification of the four NPP legislators from the Assembly.
Congress leader Goswami last month filed disqualification petitions before the Speaker’s tribunal against the four NPP MLAs for extending support to the BJP-led government, even as the party officially snapped ties with the government in November last year.
Goswami’s lead counsel, N. Bupenda Meitei said that his client (the petitioner), had filed disqualification petitions against four NPP MLAs for extending support to the BJP-led government in the state.
“The four MLAs attended a meeting of the ruling BJP legislators in November last year. The meeting was convened by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, despite NPP National President (Conrad K. Sangma) and his party (NPP), having withdrawn support to the BJP government in Manipur,” Meitei had said.
The 4 NPP MLAs are Mayanglambam Rameshwar Singh, Thongam Shanti Singh, Irengbam Nalini Devi, and Janghemlung Panmei.
The NPP had on November 17 last year withdrawn support to the BJP-led government in Manipur, claiming that CM Biren Singh-led Manipur government “completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy” in the violence-ravaged state.
The NPP had seven MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly.NPP MLA N. Kayisii, also the party’s Manipur unit President, died on January 18 after a prolonged illness, leaving six party legislators in the House at present.
Goswami had also filed a petition seeking the disqualification of the five JD-U legislators from the Assembly.
Goswami’s counsel Meitei said that Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh heard the matter on Tuesday.
In the 2022 February-March Assembly polls, the JD-U had fielded candidates in 38 constituencies and won six seats.
However, five of the MLAs later joined the BJP. The JD-U MLAs who joined the BJP are Kh Joykishan, N. Sanate, Md Achab Uddin, L.M. Khaute, and Thangjam Arunkumar. Only Kh Joykishan has filed a counter affidavit while others have not done it.
Earlier Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) with two MLAs in the Manipur assembly withdrew its support from the BJP-led state government. In the house of 60, BJP has 37 MLAs while JD(U) has one, there are three independents supporting the government. Five MLAs from Naga People’s Front (NPF) are supporting the government. Congress has five MLAs.
Ten Kuki-Zo tribal MLAs, including seven of the BJP, along with all the leading organisations of the community, have been demanding a separate administration or a Union territory for the tribals in Manipur who have not attended the assembly since the violence broke out.
