Two former ministers and a spokesperson of the party on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Manipur ahead of the Assembly by-elections in the state.
Chief Minister N Biren and Manipur BJP president S Tikendra felicitated the three Congress leaders and a woman social worker at the Durbar Hall of the Chief Minister’s bungalow in Imphal.
The two former ministers who joined the BJP are senior Congress man N Mangi of Kumbi Assembly constituency and A Biren Singh of Jiribam Assembly constituency.
Congress spokesperson O Nabakishore, who had contested the last Lok Sabha polls on, also joined hands with the saffron party.
Chief Minister Biren said more and more people are joining the BJP and acknowledging the developmental activities that were undertaken.
Manipur will go for by-elections in five assembly constituencies on November 7. Elections to the legislative assembly will be held in Wangoi in Imphal West district, Saitu in Kangpokpi district, Singhat in Churachandpur district, Lilong and Wangjing-Tentha both in Thoubal district.
By-election to the five Assembly constituencies was necessitated after their respective sitting MLAs resigned from the membership of the Manipur Legislative Assembly in August.
Currently, 13 assembly constituencies are lying vacant in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly following disqualification and resignation of MLAs.