IMPHAL, Jan 27: The opposition Congress in Manipur on Monday has filed disqualification petitions against four National People’s Party (NPP) MLAs for their support to the BJP-led government, despite the NPP officially severing ties with the ruling alliance two months ago. The petitions were filed at the Speaker’s Tribunal of the state assembly by Congress vice-president Hareshwar Goshwami, with the assistance of the petitioner’s advocate, N Bupenda Meitei.
According to Meitei, the petitions were filed against four NPP legislators—Mayanglambam Rameshwar Singh, Thongam Shanti Singh, Irengbam Nalini Devi, and Janghemlung Panmei—who attended a meeting convened for the ruling MLAs by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, despite the NPP’s national president withdrawing support from the BJP-led government. Meitei also pointed out that the NPP had officially withdrawn its support to the BJP government on November 17, 2024, citing the government’s failure to resolve the ongoing crisis in the state.
The petitions refer to the Meghachandra case in the Supreme Court, which calls for disqualification petitions to be decided within three months of filing. Goshwami expressed confidence that the Speaker would address the disqualification pleas promptly.
The NPP had seven MLAs in the 60-member Manipur assembly, but the party’s withdrawal of support did not threaten the stability of the BJP-led government, which holds a comfortable majority with 32 legislators. Recently, the death of NPP MLA N Kayisii on January 18 left the party with six MLAs in the House.
