Guwahati: In a big setback for the Congress in Manipur, five former party MLAs on Thursday quit to join a regional party, within two days after party national president Rahul Gandhi’s massive rally in the state.
The leaders, RK Anand, E Chand, Dr N Bijoy, Dr I Ibohanbi and K Sarat, joined the North East India Development Party (NEIDP) claiming the grand old party’s inability to do anything for the state.
Bijoy worked as the vice-president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), while Anand was the general secretary.
In the meantime, Anand, who was defeated in the last assembly elections, will now contest the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency as a candidate of the NEIDP, and Bijoy will be the president of the regional party.
The five leaders called out Congress for having trivial interests in the welfare of the state and caring merely about “electioneering” in the state.
On the sudden exodus of the party members, the Congress said it was for the best, as the leaders had issues with ticket distribution for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Elections for Manipur’s two Parliamentary seats will be held in two phases. For the Outer Manipur constituency, voting will take place in the first phase on April 11 and for Inner Manipur, in the second phase on April 18.
