Manipur MLA Sagolband assembly constituency RK Imo and MLA Saikul assembly  constituency Yamthong Haokip joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at New Delhi on Monday. Both the MLAs were felicitated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra.

Briefing the media at the reception ceremony, RK Imo Singh expressed that after seeing the works done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last few years and observing the peace and development across the country, it inspired him to take the decision to join BJP.

He highlighted the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir by the BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also recalled the role played by Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah to implement the inner Line Permit System in Manipur.

Imo extended his gratitude to Amit Shah and JP Nadda for showing faith in him and commended the work done in Manipur.

He further said that Manipur has made progress in the last five years, especially in terms of law and order. The days of bandhs and blockades on a regular basis are not heard anymore in Manipur, he said, adding that the gaping ridge between the hills and the valley has been bridged to an extent.

Highlighting various welfare schemes taken up by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Imo declared that he joined BJP to strengthen the peace, stability and development in Manipur under the leadership of N Biren Singh. He expressed his assurance to ensure that BJP stays in power under the leadership of N Biren Singh in the next general assembly election.

Earlier, Sambit Patra introduced RK Imo Singh and Yamthong Haokip to the party fraternity and the press. He said that RK Imo Singh is a two term MLA who won from the INC in 2017. He is the son of late RK Jaichandra Singh who was Manipur's first union minister as well as a former chief minister. RK Imo Singh, who is the son-in-law on CM Biren, was a member of AICC Drafting Committee for the Plenary Session 2018 under Manmohan Singh. He was also the AICC Observer For the Tripura Assembly Election 2018. He is also the president of Manipur Cricket Association.

It may be mentioned that RK Imo Singh was expelled from Congress Party in August, 2020 on the grounds of alleged cross voting in Rajya Sabha election. However, he denied the allegations and had remained unattached to any political party until the latest developments on Monday.   

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Yamthong Haokip told the Imphal Free Press that he joined the BJP with the intent to bring more development in his Saikul assembly constituency.

“Being in the opposition party, I could not bring progress up to the mark in my assembly constituency. I neither have any ill-feeling towards the Congress party nor am I over excited to join the BJP. Solely on the belief that I can serve more for society and give more satisfaction to the public by becoming a part of the ruling party, I have joined BJP,” said Yamthong.