The Manipur BJP, led by CM N Biren Singh, has 31 legislators now (File)
The strength of the first BJP-led coalition government in Manipur has increased to 40 in the 60 member assembly with two Congress legislators joining the ruling party. Congress legislators Kshetrimayum Biren Singh and Paonam Brojen joined the BJP last week, taking the total number of BJP legislators to 31, Works and Information Minister Th Bishwajit Singh said.
Of the 31 legislators, four are from the Naga People's Front, four from the Nationalist People Party and one independent in the BJP-led coalition headed by
N Biren Singh in the assembly.
So far, eight out of the 28 Congress legislators who won in this year's assembly elections, have joined the BJP.
On reports that seven parliamentary secretaries of the coalition government have resigned, Th Bishwajit Singh said, "They have submitted their resignation to the chief minister to take up new assignments as the chairmen of several committees of the state assembly."
There was no misunderstanding among the legislators of the ruling parties, he said. People familiar with the matter said the number of Congress MLAs in the assembly is 20 now.