TMC refutes Congress' claim of being a part of opposition protest in Manipur as polls loom

At a time when TMC is seeking to expand its base in states or than West Bengal, it denied having any understanding with Congress in Manipur ahe of Assembly polls. This came after Congress claimed that representatives of Mamata Banerjee-led party along with those from AIFB, CPI, CPI(M), JD(S), MPP, NCP, PRJA and RSP were going to organise a mass agitation against BJP-led Manipur government. Describing this as "incorrect information", TMC asserted that it did not have a state unit in Manipur. 

Earlier on September 10, Congress named a replacement for post of its Manipur state unit chief over a month after Govindas Konthoujam joined BJP. Holding interim charge since Konthoujam's resignation, Nambol MLA Nameirakpam Loken Singh Nameirakpam was appointed as full-time president of Manipur state unit. Elected to state Assembly 4 times on a Congress ticket from 2002, he has handled various Ministerial portfolios such as Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. On September 5, Congress president appointed MP Pryut Bordoloi and MLA Rakibul Hussain as AICC observers for poll-bound state. 

Political scenario in Manipur

In 2017 Manipur Assembly election, Congress emerged as single-largest party by winning 28 seats in 60-member House whereas BJP bagged 21 seats. Even as it harboured hopes of forming a government in state again, BJP thwarted its plans by forging a post-poll alliance with National People's Party, Naga People's Front and LJP. Thus, saffron party which h drawn a blank in 2012 polls formed a government in Manipur for first time with N Biren Singh taking oath as Chief Minister on March 15, 2017.

N Biren Singh-led government faced a mid-term crisis on June 17, 2020, when 9 MLAs including Deputy CM withdrew support to ruling coalition. However, it barely managed to prove its majority on  floor of Assembly on August 10 as 8 Congress MLAs stayed away from Assembly proceedings despite party issuing a whip to vote against trust motion moved by Chief Minister. government was supported by 28 members including 4 NPP MLAs on floor of  Assembly. 

Meanwhile, two Congress legislators Th Lokeshwar and Mirabai Devi reportedly threw chairs and benches in Assembly alleging that confidence motion was not conducted properly. In a major jolt for Congress, 6 out of 8 abstaining Congress MLAs submitted ir resignations to Speaker on same day. At present, Congress has 16 members in Manipur Assembly as against that of BJP which is single-largest party with 24 MLAs. Overall, state government has support of 36 MLAs including 4 MLAs from NPP and NPF respectively, lone LJP MLA and three Independents.