Manipur Assembly. File photo
Manipur Assembly. File photo

The Opposition Congress MLAs walked out of the Manipur Assembly on Monday in connection with the ‘non-consideration’ of a ‘point of order’ in the ongoing State Assembly Session.

The ‘point of order’ was raised by opposition member AK Mirabai under the Tenth Schedule over the joining of Th Shyamkumar, a Congress MLA to the ruling front and it was supported by opposition Congress MLAs Md Abdul Nasir and Govindas Konthoujam.

However, Speaker Y Khemchand of the Manipur State Legislative Assembly said, the ‘point of order’ raised (by the opposition members) was not related with the day’s agenda of the Assembly.

Later, the Congress MLAs led by the Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi SIngh, walked out of the Assembly hall while Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar was trying to present the supplementary demands for grants soon after Chief Minister N Biren Singh moved the business advisory committee report.

However, two MLAs S Bira and O Lukhoi from the opposition bench did not walk out of the House.

Later, they were joined by MLA P Brojen, who is also from the opposition bench.

After the adjournment of the House for the day with no other agenda was there to discuss, Assembly Speaker Khemchand told reporters, “It was very unfortunate. We should respect the proceedings of the House as per rules.”

Even though the opposition walked out of the session, the proceedings of the House continued with Deputy Chief Minister Joykumar’s budget speech where Joykumar, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the budget estimate of Rs 13,733.62 crore for the year 2018-19.

Earlier, Chief Minister N Biren, leader of the opposition O Ibobi, Congress MLA TN Haokip,Yamthong Haokip, S Bira and Speaker Khemchand took part in the day’s obituary reference to the departed soul of former MLA and Minister Holkholet Khongsai.