Biren Singh threatened MLAs against supporting no-confidence motion: Ibobi Singh

Congress legislature party leader Okram Ibobi Singh

Credit: PTI File Photo 

Guwahati: Former Manipur CM and veteran Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh on Monday alleged that Chief Minister N Biren Singh has threatened BJP MLAs against supporting a non-confidence motion likely to be moved by the Opposition during the assembly session starting February 10.

A team of Congress MLAs led by Ibobi met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan in Imphal and submitted a memorandum urging him to advise the CM to refrain from 'intimidating' the MLAs.

Talking to reporters outside Raj Bhavan, Singh said Biren had issued the threats to BJP MLAs during a meeting on January 14, while referring to media reports about a no-confidence motion. "The CM threatened the MLAs that if they supported the no-confidence motion, people would not allow them to stay in their houses and they would be chased out. This is undemocratic behaviour and unbecoming for a chief minister.

The no-confidence motion is a democratic right of the MLAs," 77-year-old Ibobi said.
Biren Singh has not reacted to Ibobi's allegation.

Biren Singh was a confidant of Ibobi till he switched from Congress to the BJP in 2017 and wrested power from him.

BJP has 37 MLAs in the House of 60 but the ruling party's worry began when several MLAs skipped a meeting called by Biren Singh on November 19. Sources said several MLAs were unhappy with Biren over his alleged failure to find a solution to the ongoing conflict.

National People's Party (NPP), an ally of the BJP-led government with six MLAs, withdrew support.

NPP chief and Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma even sought Biren's replacement for restoration of his party's support. Sources said Congress and NPP MLAs are planning to move a no-confidence motion and they reached out to BJP MLAs, who are unhappy with Biren Singh.