More MLAs join BJP in Manipur

The BJP's strength in the Manipur assembly rose to 28 on Friday after four more Congress MLAs and the Trinamool Congress' lone legislator joined the ruling party.

"It shows that more and more elected representatives now trust Narendra Modi's leadership and the developmental works undertaken by him," an upbeat Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said.

In yet another blow to the Congress, four more of its MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday. Two Congress MLAs had joined it earlier.

The four who went over to the BJP on Friday were Y. Surchandra, Ngamthang Haokip, O. Lukhoi and S. Bira.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and Manipur BJP president K. Bhabanada felicitated them at the party office.

The Trinamool Congress in Manipur also merged with the BJP on Friday. Accordingly, its lone MLA, Robindro Singh, is now a BJP legislator, taking its strength in the 60-member house to 28.

T. Shyamkumar was the first Congress MLA to join the BJP after the assembly elections. He was sworn in as a cabinet minister on March 15.

Another MLA, Ginsuanhau Zou, followed him.

In the March election, the Congress, which was then in power, bagged 28 seats to finish as the single largest group.

But the BJP, which secured 21 seats, joined hands with other parties to form the government.

State Congress President T.N. Haokip said: "Things have changed after the election. Friends have become foes. There is nothing called principle or ideology. Those who crossed the floor are not afraid of disqualification."

Meanwhile, Speaker Y. Khemchand is examining two petitions seeking disqualification of Shyamkumar and Zou.

--IANS

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