BJP, Congress leaders on toes as Manipur MLAs to participate in trust vote in Assembly

Imphal, Aug 10 (PTI) BJP and Congress leers are on ir toes as legislators in Manipur will vote on a confidence motion to be moved by Chief Minister N Biren Singh during a special one-day session of Assembly on Monday.

trust vote will decide fate of BJP-led coalition government in state.

Both BJP and Congress have issued whips to ir 18 and 24 MLAs respectively asking m to be present in Assembly and vote as per ir party's line.

strength of 60-member House is 53 at present after resignation of three legislators and disqualification of four members under anti-defection law.

BJP state president S Tikendra Singh said he was confident that government will win trust vote by garnering support of more than 30 members even though coalition's strength in House stands at 29.

Congress h on July 28 moved a -confidence motion against BJP-led government in state.

Congress MLA Keisham Meghachandra Singh, who h submitted -confidence motion, said confidence motion to be moved by Chief Minister N Biren Singh has been listed for discussion in business nda of House circulated by Assembly secretary on Saturday.

" rules of business of House clearly mention that if re are two separate motions on same spirit of topic, one moved by opposition and or by government, priority should be given to government's motion. So, Congress will take part in discussion," he said.

During discussion, Congress will highlight issues like high-profile drug seizure case involving former Chandel Automous District Council Chairman Lhukhosei Zou, a BJP leer at that time, spre of COVID-19 and n-availability of essential commodities during lockdown, Singh ded.

BJP-led coalition government in state plunged into a political crisis on June 17 after six MLAs withdrew ir support while three BJP legislators quit party and joined Congress.

However, four National People's Party (NPP) MLAs later returned to coalition following intervention of top BJP leers and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conr K Sangma, who is also NPP supremo.