RK Imo Singh, who is the son-in-law of CM Biren, has been accused by his detractors of orchestrating the resignation of several Congress MLAs in 2020. He was later expelled by the Congress party for “anti-party” activities last year.
TFM Desk
Defection of Congress MLAs to BJP has been the underlying story of the present BJP led Manipur government since its inception in 2017. And just a few months away from the upcoming state general election, the story seems to be continuing.
On Monday, two former Congress MLAs — RK Imo Singh of Sagolband AC and Yamthong Haokip of Saikul AC, joined the BJP at its headquarters at New Delhi.
The joining of RK Imo Singh is a significant move in the state politics, though not a surprise, after former Congress state unit president Govindas Konthoujam jumped ship a few months back.
Following father-in-law’s footstep
RK Imo Singh comes from an important Congress family of Manipur. His father RK Jaichandra Singh was Manipur’s first union minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government and was also a chief minister of Manipur. His grandfather RK Birchandra Singh was the first Congress president of Manipur when Manipur attained statehood in 1972.
RK Imo Singh is a two-term MLA who won from the INC in 2012 and 2017. He was a member of AICC Drafting Committee for the Plenary Session 2018 under former PM Manmohan Singh. He was also the AICC observer for the Tripura Assembly Elections in 2018. He was also said to have been close to Gandhi’s family.
During the press conference at the reception ceremony, RK Imo Singh stated that he has joined the BJP as he truly believes the work done by the Prime Minister of India during the last few years. He emphasised the work done in Jammu & Kashmir regarding Article 370 during Modi’s tenure as the PM.
He stressed the importance of the work done by the PM and the Home Minister for enforcing the Inner Line Permit System in Manipur. He also thanked Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda for having faith in him.
He further maintained that Manipur has made progress in the last five years especially in the field of law and order. The days or bandhs and blockades on a regular basis are not heard anymore in Manipur. The ridge between the hills and the valley which was very wide has been bridged to an extent, he added.
RK Imo Singh also lauded Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, stating that he has worked tirelessly to ensure that the communities of the valley and hills live peacefully as one. He has joined the BJP to ensure there is more peace, stability and development in Manipur under the leadership of CM Biren Singh. He exuded confidence that he will ensure that BJP comes back to power under the leadership of N Biren Singh.
RK Imo Singh, who is the son-in-law of CM Biren, has been accused by his detractors of orchestrating the resignation of several Congress MLAs in 2020. He was later expelled by the Congress party for “anti-party” activities last year.
Pistols, NIA and Yamthong Haokip
In 2018, the National Investigating Agency had arrested Yamthong Haokip in connection with a missing arms case.
“Yamthong Haokip was arrested for his involvement in procuring police pistols illegally and distributing them to different terrorist groups to wage war against the state,” the NIA had said.
The agency was investigating the theft of 56 pistols and 58 magazines from the director general of police’s pool armoury, located inside the premises of the Second Manipur Rifles Battalion in Imphal. The weapons were believed to have gone missing between 2016 and early 2017.
The agency had recovered one of the missing pistols from the Saikul MLA’s house in Imphal on July 30, 2018.
“During investigation, sufficient material and other evidence has been collected which established the complicity of the MLA in the case,” the NIA had said.
BJP ticket in high demand
The exercise of “political alignment” before every state general election is becoming quite normal in Manipur’s electoral politics.
In the present context, many MLA aspirants are flocking the BJP, in the hope that it will be able to form the next government in the state. In most of the constituencies, at least in the valley, at least three or four candidates are vying for the BJP ticket.
According to observers, this has in a way, created a headache for the party in choosing the “right” candidate. As most of these intending candidates have begun campaigning, they are believed to fight the election with or without the BJP ticket.
While the BJP is facing that problem, Congress is hoping that having many vying for the party ticket will backfire and benefit the Congress instead. The grand old party is keeping its cards close to the chest.
Another party that has been shaping to be the dark horse in forming the next government is the National People’s Party. Although the party is in the present coalition government in the state, it is keeping its option open.
As many “winnable” candidates are choosing NPP, instead of BJP or Congress, observers believe that the number of MLAs might increase from its present four. As of now, they are of the opinion that no party might be able to win an absolute majority and a coalition government is set to return.