Congress asks Manipur Governer to ensure proper trust vote, says previous vote not bona fide

GUWAHATI: Manipur opposition leader O Ibobi Singh has in a representation to governor Najma Heptulla alleged that there was no bona fide trust vote conducted in the state assembly and sought her intervention on the issue. The Biren Singh-led BJP coalition government won the trust vote by a voice vote despite the Congress demanding a division (voting) when the motion was taken up for passage.

Singh in his letter requested the governor to convene a special assembly session under Article 174 of Constitution to conduct a trust vote alleging that the August 10 vote violated Rules 311, 360 and SC judgments on how to conduct a floor test.

Congress spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei said the six pages representation cited violations of Rule No 311 & 360 of Procedures and Conduct of Business of Manipur Assembly under 208 of the Constitution, and SC judgments in Union of India Vs. Harish Rawat of 2016 & Shivraj Singh Chouhan Vs. Madhya Pradesh Speaker of 2020.


"The letter by the CLP and opposition Leader, O Ibobi Singh, to the Manipur governor is a clear reflection of the unprecedented constitutional blunder committed on the floor of the House, proving that there was no bona fide trust vote. It was not only the murder of democracy but also the commission of violations of established procedures, abuse of the Speaker's powers, destruction of the Constitution and dishonouring of Supreme Court judgments. The Congress expects the Governor to intervene," Meitei alleged.

Eight Congress MLAS had defied the whip and absented themselves from the assembly and six of them resigned as MLAS later. Congress had a total of 24 MLAs.