Political heavyweights changing parties in Manipur

Imphal, Jan 09 (UNI) Political heavyweights of Manipur are changing parties before the ninth Assembly Elections scheduled in February.

The leader of the BJP legislature wing R K Dorendra Singh has already left the party. He had applied to the Congress. However, the Congress was yet to give a nod. Political experts said Dorendra might join the Manipur People's Party also.

Meanwhile, former President of the BJP Thounaojam Chaoba has announced that he would join the Manipur Peoples' Party (MPP).

Mr Chaoba had been ousted from the BJP after pressure was exerted on the party by the militant outfit, the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), to remove him from the party for alleged involvement in some cases.

President of MPP Dr L Chandramani formally announced last evening at the office of the MPP that he might contest the coming elections from Nambol constituency.

L Chandramani said R K Dorendra had not yet applied to join the party.

He further said some MLAs of the Federal Party of Manipur may contest as MPP candidates. The MLAs were S Ibohal, L Ibomcha, M Nilachandra, L Tomba and N Sovakiran .

The BJP, which has been badly hit by the recent development, was also planning to declare candidates by tomorrow. The BJP, which had four MLAs in the last elections had just one MLA now. Two had left the party earlier and Dorendra left it a few days back.

UNI