Imphal, September 3: In a late night political development on Friday, five JD(U) MLAs have joined the ruling BJP. A bulletin issued by the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat said that the merger was done under the provisions of the 10th schedule of the constitution.
Five of the six Janata Dal (United) MLAs joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Manipur on Friday, September 2, days after Nitish Kumar-led party snapped ties with the saffron party in Bihar.
Reacting to the development, Manipur State JD(U) president Kshetrimayum Biren said that since it is in violation of the provisions of the 10th schedule, the party shall go to the High Court seeking disqualification of these five MLAs. Mohammad Abdul Nasir is the lone JD(U) MLA left in the party. He has also rushed to Delhi and the announcement of his stand is awaited.
According to The Hindu, chief minister and BJP leader N. Biren Singh has been camping in Delhi for the past few days. On the other hand, BJP state president A. Sharda left the state capital, Imphal, with the five former JD(U) legislators for New Delhi on Saturday, September 3. Top BJP leaders, including party president J.P. Nadda, are expected to give them a warm reception and welcome into the party.
Biren Singh shared pictures of the 5 JD(U) MLAs along with him and the Manipur state BJP president A Sharda Devi. “Along with State BJP President, Smt @AShardaDevi Ji, heartily welcomed the 5 JDU MLAs who got merged into BJP yesterday. This merger shows the love and trust entrusted by people in the leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji and Hon’ble BJP President Shri @JPNadda Ji,” Singh tweeted.
In response to the defections, JD(U) state president Kshetrimayum Biren said the party will move the high court seeking disqualification of the MLAs, stating that it was in violation of the provisions of the 10th schedule of the constitution. Echoing the same, the Manipur Congress party – which has five MLAs in the Assembly – too said that it will approach the court on the matter, according to The Hindu.
The JD(U) had won six of the 38 constituencies it had contested in the assembly elections held in March this year. The JD(U) was the third largest party in the Assembly, after the National People’s Party (seven MLAs) and the BJP, which had 32 MLAs, will now have 37 MLAs.
After the results of the Assembly elections were declared earlier this year, the party submitted a declaration to the governor, pledging its support to the BJP. However, the saffron party snubbed the Nitish Kumar-led party and formed a coalition government with the regional Naga People’s Front.
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