In yet another setback to the ruling Congress in Manipur, veteran Congress leader and party’s vice-president in the State, N Biren Singh has resigned from the party as well as from the State legislative Assembly on Thursday even as sources said that over ten Congress leaders in Manipur are likely to follow the path soon.
Although the senior Congress leader did not tell anything about his future move, sources said that he is likely to join the BJP shortly. Biren Singh, who was also accommodated in the Cabinet of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, had allegedly led a dissidence camp in the party and tried to topple the Government in the past.
“The prevailing situation in Manipur is not good. Whatever is happening is a direct impact of mis governance. I am also a part of the Government and hence I have taken the responsibility personally and decided to resign,” Biren Singh told The Pioneer on Thursday.
The senior Congressman also expressed his unhappiness over some of the recent happenings in the State and said that how long the common people have to wait for solving their problems. “The nine bodies are still in the morgue for over last one year and the Inner line Permit Bill is yet to be passed. There have also been move to divide the people between the hills and valley in Manipur,” he said.
On asked about his future move, Singh only said that it is too early to comment and only said that he would join some party soon.
It may be mentioned here that nine tribal people were killed during a protest demonstration against the state assembly’s passing of three anti-migrant bills in August last year. The bodies of the nine people were still kept in the morgue of a local hospital. The three bills, which were passed by the state assembly last year, had been strongly opposed by the Nagas, Kuki and other tribals who inhabit in the hill districts of Manipur.
The move is likely to affect the Congress ahead of the next year’s polls. Apart from N. Biren Singh, another senior Congress leader Y. Erabot Singh had left the Congress and joined BJP last month. Four Trinamool Congress legislators in Manipur had also joined the BJP last month.
Biren Singh, who was known for his differences of opinion with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, said that his decision to resign from the Congress is due to the present government’s inability to fulfill the major aspirations of the people.