The strength of the ruling BJP-led alliance in Manipur continues to swell as four more Congress MlAs have joined the saffron party on Friday, making the total strength of the ruling alliance to 38 in the 60-member House.
Congress MlAs— Y Surchandra, Ngamthang Haokip, O lukhoi and S Bira — joined the saffron party on Friday at the BJP headquarters in Imphal.
“This is the indication of the good governance initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and by our Government here. The Congress legislators are joining the BJP at their will,” said Manipur BJP president K Bhabananda while welcoming the four Congress leaders to the party-fold.
Congress legislator T Shayamkumar had joined the BJP after the saffron party led alliance formed the Governm-
ent in the State. last week another Congress MlA G Zou had left the party with his supporters to join the BJP.
In the recent Assembly election, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party by winning 28 seats. The BJP came second with 21 seats but had managed to form the Government with support from four Nationalist Peoples’ Party MlAs, four Naga Peoples Front legislators, one each from the Trinamool Congress, lok Janshakti Party and one Independent legislator. The Trinamool Congress later merged with the BJP.
With the six Congress legislators coming to BJP fold, the strength of the BJP in Manipur is 28 while the Congress strength came down to 22.