Days after quitting Congress, the party’s former Manipur chief Govindas Konthoujam joined the BJP on Sunday, saying he was impressed with the Modi Government's development work for the region.
With Manipur Assembly elections due next year, Konthoujam’s joining has come as shot in the arm of the BJP which welcomed him into its fold in the presence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, indicating the importance the BJP is according him.
State BJP chief A Sharda Devi, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni and the party's in-charge for the state Sambit Patra among others were in attendance. A six-time consecutively elected MLA from the Bishnupur seat, Konthoujam could have been even the Congress’s Chief Ministerial face in the State. But he chose to quit the Congress a few days
back. Biren Singh, who himself was also in the Congress before joining the BJP, called Konthoujam a friend and asserted that more leaders will be joining the party.
Singh said ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come into power at the Centre, Manipur has been peaceful and doing well. "I was also in Congress. But if the driver is asleep, how will the vehicle move? There was violence, strike, bandh. But since PM Modi's Government came in, things have been peaceful," the Manipur CM said.
People of Manipur like the Modi Government's agenda for the entire northeast's development, he said, noting that the presence of five Ministers from the region in his dispensation showed the attention and care it had given to the place. Manipur was associated with frequent blockades, violence and strikes but since the BJP came to power in the State in 2017, progress and peace have prevailed, he added.
Patra described Konthoujam as a well-known face from the northeast region and referred to his vast administrative and legislative experience.
While tendering his resignation letter from the primary membership of the party at the Congress Bhawan in Imphal, Konthoujam said he had taken the step due to "personal reasons".