4 Trinamool Congress MLAs join Congress in Manipur

Imphal, Sep 19: Four Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs from Manipur today joined the Congress, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) announced.

The legislators who joined the Congress after resigning from the primary membership of TMC were -- Andro MLA Thounaojam Shyamkumar, Oinam MLA I Ibohalbi Singh, Konthoujam MLA Konthoujam Sarat Singh and Wangoi MLA Oinam Lukhoi Singh. MPCC president TN Haokip welcomed them into the party.

The four MLAs told a press conference that they have joined the Congress since the national leadership of the TMC "failed miserably" to take up the issues related to the Framework agreement signed between the NDA government at the Centre and NSCN (IM), territorial integrity of Manipur and implementation of the inner-line permit system in the state in Parliament.

They were accorded a reception at Congress Bhawan here in the afternoon which was attended by Congress general secretary (northeast in-charge) CP Joshi, secretaries Avinash Pandey and Vijaya Laxumi Sadhu and Haokip among others.

Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, ministers, MLAs and other Congress leaders were also present on the occasion. O Ibobi Singh warmly welcomed the legislators into the party and said the partymen will work hand-in-hand with them in the times to come. Assembly polls are due in the state early next year.

PTI