Newmai News Network Imphal | September 12 Veteran Congress leader from Manipur Yumkham Erabot Singh today joined the Manipur unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the state assembly polls due in few months' time. Before joining the rival camp, he had resigned from the Manipur Legislative Assembly as well as relinquish the primary membership MPCC. “Erabot was the most powerful and honest man among Congressmen in Manipur. He is a man of integrity,” State BJP chief Kshetrimayum Bhabananda said at a formal function to welcome him at the party office, Nityaipat Chuthek here. It was also officially confirmed that the Congress MLA had resigned from the primary membership of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC). Last Saturday, large number Wankhei electorate thronged Erabot’s residence making uproar against Congress Party. The supporters said they were fed-up of Congress and demanded that it was the time for their representative (Erabot) to join the saffron party. Erabot was elected to the state assembly for the first time on Janata Dal ticket in 1980 and later joined the state Congress and got reelected for five more times. But he won the 2002 state assembly polls on the ticket of Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP). Bhabananda made the formal announcement on Erabot’s joining the BJP at the event which was attended by former state BJP president Thounaojam Chaoba Singh and party’s two MLAs Thongam Biswajit Singh, Khumukcham Joykishan and a host of party workers. Flanked by a large number of BJP workers, Irabot staged a march from his residence at Khurai Ahongei in Imphal East up to state BJP office to join it. Bhabananda said the party was indeed proud of Erabot’s entering into the party fold. The state BJP currently has two legislators in the 60-member assembly. The party’s recent gains in local body polls as well as two by-polls held in Imphal East and Imphal West have exhilarated the National BJP which had stormed to power in Assam recently, a humiliating defeat for Congress. Meanwhile, preparations are being taken up by the state BJP for the scheduled Manipur visit by National BJP President Amit Shah on September 14. Amit Shah is set to interact party workers here as part of the BJP’s strategy for the polls. Media reports said, apart from Shah, BJP’s important leaders like Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and NEDA Convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma are likely to join campaigning in the Congress-ruled state.
