The Congress in Manipur has filed disqualification petitions against four National People’s Party (NPP) MLAs for extending support to the BJP-led government, despite the NPP officially severing ties with the ruling front two months ago.
Manipur Congress vice-president Hareshwar Goshwami submitted the petitions at the Speaker’s Tribunal of the state assembly, advocate N. Bupendra Meitei confirmed.
“My client has filed the petitions against four NPP legislators for supporting the BJP-led government. They attended a meeting convened for ruling MLAs by the chief minister,” Bupendra Meitei stated.
The advocate pointed out that the NPP national president had officially withdrawn the party’s support to the BJP-led government, yet the four MLAs—Mayanglambam Rameshwar Singh, Thongam Shanti Singh, Irengbam Nalini Devi, and Janghemlung Panmei—participated in the meeting.
Bupendra Meitei cited the Supreme Court’s Meghachandra judgment, which mandates the resolution of disqualification petitions within three months of filing. “We are confident the Speaker will dispose of the pleas promptly,” he said.
The NPP had withdrawn support to the BJP-led government on November 17, 2024, accusing Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s administration of failing to address the ongoing crisis and restore normalcy in the violence-hit state. The withdrawal, however, did not destabilize the government, as the BJP holds an absolute majority in the 60-member assembly with 32 seats.
Following the demise of NPP Manipur president and MLA N Kayisii on January 18, the party now has six MLAs in the assembly.
