Manipur Congress sounds no-trust move against Biren Singh govt.

Manipur Congress President Keisham Meghachandra addresses a press conference in the presence of party general in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh, at AICC headquarters, in New Delhi. File photo
| Photo Credit: ANI

GUWAHATI: The Manipur unit of Congress has sounded a no-confidence warning against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government during the upcoming session of the 60-member State Assembly.

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State Congress president, Keisham Meghachandra on Friday (February 7, 2025) said his party was set to move the no-confidence motion soon. The Assembly session in the State’s capital Imphal starts February 10.

“Brahmastra missile will surely hit one of the double engines,” he posted on X, indicating the Manipur government headed by Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh.

Mr Meghachandra is one of the five Congress MLAs.

Speculations about a no-trust motion were rife after veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh led a delegation to the Raj Bhavan to apprise Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla of an alleged threat by Mr Biren Singh. The meeting indicated the party’s decision to move a no-trust motion.

“There was an event organised by the BJP at its head office (in Imphal) on January 14, 2025. In that meeting, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh mentioned that any MLA who moves a no-confidence motion will not be able to stay in the house as he will be chased by the people,” Mr Ibobi Singh said after the meeting with the Governor.

A Congress functionary in Imphal said a relevant rule allows an MLA to submit a written notice to the Assembly Secretary for a leave of motion expressing want of confidence in the council of ministers. The leave is granted if the Speaker deems the motion is in order and there are at least 10 MLAs in its favour.

According to local media reports, a section of the BJP legislators not happy with the handling of the ethnic conflict by the Chief Minister may lend their support to the no-confidence motion. The reports also hinted at a division in the BJP with two sets of MLAs visiting Delhi to meet with the central party leaders.

Although incident-free for more than two months now, Manipur has been scarred by ethnic clashes between the tribal Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities since May 2023. The conflict left more than 250 people dead and some 60,000 displaced. EOM