Imphal: Opposition Congress party in a representation to Manipur governor Najma Heptulla has sought another special session for a fresh trust vote in the Assembly session, terming the August 10 trust motion as ‘inconclusive and procedurally illegal’.
Former chief minister and CLP leader Okram Ibobi Singh stated the August 10 trust vote violated Rules 311, 360 Procedures & Conduct of Business of Manipur Assembly and two Supreme Court judgments, and demanded another trust vote under Article 174 of the Constitution of India.
The six-page representation submitted to the governor on Friday cited violations of Rules 311, 360 of the Procedures & Conduct of Business of Manipur Assembly and two judgments of the SC — the first is the Union of India against former Uttarakhand CM Harish Chandra Singh Rawat in 2016 and the second judgment of the apex court is the current Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan versus his state’s Assembly Speaker this year.
The ruling and decision of the Speaker in the matter of voting on Confidence Motion moved by chief minister N Biren Singh on August 10 trust vote is arbitrary, illegal, null and void as it is contrary to the procedure given in Rule 360 of Procedures & Conduct of Business of Manipur Assembly, said the former CM.
Also Read: Manipur: BJP-led govt wins trust vote
The decision of the Speaker to use ‘voice vote’ in deciding an important motion on a vote of confidence is contrary to the clear orders of Supreme Court of India to adopt a division of the house, raise of hands and counting the members physically to ascertain the exact number of MLAs voting for or against the motion, the Opposition party stated.
Congress spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei said that the letter by the CLP Leader & Opposition Leader O Ibobi Singh to Manipur Governor is a clear reflection of the unprecedented constitutional blunder committed on the floor of the House, proving that there was no bonafide trust vote with the counting of votes.
It was not only the murder of democracy but also the commission of the violations of established procedures, abuse of the Chair of Speaker, destruction of the Constitution & dishonouring of Supreme Court’s judgments. The Congress expects Governor to intervene, he added.
Earlier, the N Biren Singh-led government in Manipur won a controversial confidence motion by a voice vote with 29 voted in favour of the ruling government and 15 of them are in against.
Among the eight Congress MLAs who were abstained from attending the trust motion, six have already resigned from the party and to which Speaker has already accepted their resignation notice.
Also Read: Manipur: Congress files no-confidence motion against the ruling government
