Five ex-Congress MLAs quit the party in Manipur

With just a few weeks remaining for the 2019 general election, a mass jumping of ship by senior leaders of the Congress has been haunting the party. Senior leaders from critical states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha and Kerala after citing various issues in party management and other irregularities are moving to the BJP and other parties. Many leaders have even cited continuous neglect and unprofessionalism by the party for their exit. What comes as a major jolt to the Congress in the North Eastern state of Manipur, five Ex-MLA’s quit Congress to join a regional party.

R K Anand, E Chand Singh, Dr Ng Bijoy, Dr I Ibohanbi Singh and K Sharatkumar on Thursday jumped ship to join the regional North East India Development Party (NEIDP). Dr. Bijoy declared the shift in a press conference from his office, which was also being attended by the remaining four leaders. This comes just after the national president of the All India Congress Committee; Rahul Gandhi had visited the state to launch the electoral campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

 North Eastern India is set to play a critical part in the formation of the government in 2019. The last few elections in the states have tilted the regions mandate towards NDA with congress struggling to save ground; this comes as a major embarrassment. “National parties always neglected regional and state issues. Acting on the behest of the high command is the order of the national parties. We no more have faith with the national parties,” Dr. Ng Bijoy said on five leaders joining the regional party. Dr. Ng Bijoy and RK Anand were spokespersons of the Manipur Pradesh Congress committee (MPCC) before joining the NEIDP.

NEIDP welcomed the defecting leaders with open hands. The five disgruntled leaders joined the regional party in a function in Imphal, attended by NEIDP working President Narengbam Samarjit Singh and other party leaders. Dr. Ng Bijoy has been named the state unit President (Manipur) coupled with RK Anand being named the candidate from inner Manipur parliamentary constituency for the upcoming general elections.

The party currently extends its support to the BJP led government in the state. However had announced candidates from both the parliamentary constituencies in the State. The joining of new leaders gave a major boost to the morale of the party cadre in the state and is set to significantly improve the party’s electoral position in Manipur.

Plagued with defections, Congress is struggling to save its leaders from shifting allegiances over multitude of issues. Sujay Vikhe Patil, son of senior Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil also joined the BJP in presence of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Following this Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil resigned as LoP giving another blow to the Congress. Gauging the winds in favor of the NDA, leaders from many regional parties have made the jump, leaders of BJD, NCP, AITC and others have remained under the scanner in this regard. Congress’s Pravin Chedda will also be joining the BJP today further adding to the tally of defections in Maharashtra Congress. Reports over NCP vice President jumping over to the BJP are also Floating.