Five former Congress MLAs from Manipur including Okram Henry, who is the nephew of former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, officially joined the BJP in New Delhi on Wednesday.
All the leaders from Manipur called on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda after the joining ceremony, which was attended by party general secretary Ram Madhav and vice-president Baijayant Jay Panda.
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The five MLAs resigned from Manipur State Legislative Assembly and Congress on August 10.
The ex-Congress MLAs are Ngamthang Haokip of Saitu constituency, Paonam Brojen of Wangjing Tentha constituency, Oinam Lukhoi of Wangoi constituency, Okram Henry of Wangkhei of constituency and Ginsuanhau of Singhat constituency.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh was also present during the event.
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“Manipur had been under Kushashan (bad governance) of the Congress for almost 15 years till 2017 when NDA came to power. Since then, Manipur became one of the fastest-growing states with 16 percent GDP growth,” said Ram Madhav.
Madhav said Congress had been trying to destabilise the Manipur government by unfair means, “but because of the people and elected representatives’ faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they were unable to do so.”
Madhav said after the Congress moved a no-confidence motion in the State Assembly, even Congress MLAs in good numbers supported the BJP government.
“Cross-voting in democracy during no-confidence motion has legal implications, and therefore honouring our request, the MLAs who supported our government have resigned from their post and are ready to contest election again,” said Madhav.
“I extend my warmest welcome to the five former Congress MLAs from the state, Ginsuanhau, O. Lukhoi, Ngamthang Haokip, P. Brojen and O. Henry on joining BJP today in New Delhi in presence of BJP National General Secretary Shri Ram Madhav ji and Vice President Shri Baijayant Panda ji,” N Biren wrote in his Facebook post.