Breakaway Congress MLAs merge with Samata Party

IMPHAL, January 4: The breakaway Manipur Regional Congress Party, consisting of ten Congress MLAs who split recently from the party, has merged with the Samata party. An announcement to this effect was made by the Samata Party chief Jaya Jaitley today in New Delhi. The move raises the strength of the Samata Party to 11 in the state Assembly. The party previously had only one representative, state unit president Wangkhem Basantakumar. According to sources in New Delhi, Radhabinod Koijam, who led the breakaway Congress faction, has been chosen the Samata Party legislature wing leader in the state Assembly. Addressing media persons at a press conference held this afternoon at the residence of Union Defence Minister George Fernandes, Jaya Jaitley said the merger would strengthen the Samata Party in the state and enable it to serve the people more effectively. While welcoming the new entrants, all of whom were present at the press meet, Jaya Jaitley declared that the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre no longer had any confidence in the United Front Government in Manipur. She said the UF government had failed in every field, and it was only a matter of time before it fell. She also declared that there was no alternative at this juncture other than either an alternative government comes to power in the state, or the Centre imposes President's Rule. State Samata Party President Wangkhem Basantakumar was also present at the press conference. Speaking to IFP over the telephone tonight, Basantakumar said the entry of ten MLAs led by Radhabinod Koijam was welcome, adding that the party would serve the people in a transparent manner. Asked whether the Samata Party would claim leadership of the newly formed Manipur Democratic Front, now that it was the single largest Opposition Party, Basantakumar said no discussions have been held in that regard. Observing that the split from the Congress of the MRCP and the subsequent merger with the Samata Party had been carried out with the objective of forming a common platform with the BJP, he said the Samata Party would accept any leader who is chosen by a collective decision of the MDF. Basantakumar also disclosed that all 11 MLAs of the Samata Party met with Planning Commission deputy chairman KC Pant and submitted a report on the financial and planning mismanagement in the state.