Imphal, August 11 (NNN): The strength of the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly has been reduced to 47 as the Speaker of the Assembly accepted the resignations of five of the six Congress MLAs on Tuesday.
In a heavy blow to the main opposition Congress party in Manipur, six sitting MLAs of the party had reportedly submitted their resignations to the Speaker Y Khemchand on Monday. The six MLAs who tendered their resignations are Okram Henry Singh, Oinam Lukhoi Singh, Md Abdul Nasir, Ngamthang Haokip, Ginsuanhau and Paonam Brojen Singh.
The Speaker, however, accepted the resignation of the first five MLAs while putting on hold the resignation of Paonam Brojen Singh.
An official source said Brojen’s resignation was put on hold as a disqualification case against him is pending with the Tribunal of the Speaker.
The MLAs had reportedly who defied the party whip and skipped the one-day monsoon session of the state Assembly and tendered their resignation while the session was in progress.
Even as the Congress issued whip to its MLAs, eight of them skipped the session when the trust motion moved by Chief Minister N Biren Singh was discussed and passed by voice vote amid chaos in the House.
Later, the six Congress MLAs told reporters late Monday night that they were also quitting the Congress party as they "have no more faith in the party” with O Ibobi Singh as leader of the opposition and Congress Legislature Party leader.
