AICC observers Ajay Maken and Gaurav Gogoi, who had flown here on Friday evening, were kept under quarantine for the second consecutive day in line with Covid-19 protocols in Manipur, while a war of words erupted between the ruling BJP and the Congress.
While the Congress claimed that the BJP-led government has lost majority, the BJP claimed the issue had been settled with the victory of its candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls.
Nobody has been allowed to see Maken, Congress spokesperson, and Gaurav Gogoi, party general secretary in-charge of the Northeast, who came here as AICC observers after the sudden political developments in Manipur, including formation of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) led by O. Ibobi Singh following the resignation of four ministers belonging to National People’s Party and five others from the government.
The state authority had placed the two AICC leaders in a paid quarantine centre at an Imphal hotel in accordance with the guidelines on pandemic. As they had already booked rooms at the hotel before their arrival here, they were guided by an additional superintendent of police rank officer to the hotel, official sources said.
Both of them have to stay in isolation and undergo Covid-19 tests, a government spokesperson said.
A state Congress leader, on the condition of anonymity, said they are not allowed to see the AICC leaders as they are in quarantine centre.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav took a swipe at the Congress, saying it could not win the Rajya Sabha seat and was claiming majority in the Assembly.
“The Congress party couldn’t win the RS seat in Manipur. Yet went to governor claiming they have majority in Assembly. Their leader Ajay Maken and MP Gaurav Gogoi entered Manipur disregarding Corona guidelines. They have been promptly quarantined by the state health authorities,” he tweeted.
In the Rajya Sabha poll in Manipur, which took place in the backdrop of high political drama triggered by the resignations, BJP’s Leishemba Sanajaoba defeated rival Congress candidate T. Mangi Babu by four votes.
In a counter to Ram Madhav, Ajay Maken tweeted: “The Congress always regards rules and traditions. We came here with permission with full knowledge and booked a quarantine centre in advance. It is a support to the Manipur PCC and its people in fight against a government formed by manipulation against popular votes!”
Gaurav Gogoi, MP, also hit back at Ram Madhav, saying: “You are a senior leader of your party. I would have hoped that you would check your facts before tweeting. May be the last-minute manipulation to block four Congress votes has induced a false sense of confidence.”
Three Congress defectors — Ksh Biren Singh, S Bira Singh and Surchandra Singh — were not allowed to cast their votes as cases are pending against them. However, the other four defectors could vote.
The seven Congress legislators who had crossed over to the BJP shortly after the 2017 state polls, have been facing anti-defection cases. Their disqualification matter is with Manipur High Court as well as the Speaker’s tribunal.
One recently disqualified MLA was also barred from taking part in the voting process. Of the nine members who tendered resignation on Wednesday, BJP MLAs S. Subhashchandra Singh, T.T. Haokip and Samuel Jendai could not cast their votes.
Four NPP ministers, who had withdrawn their support from the ruling coalition, have exercised their franchise during the poll.
The lone Trinamul Congress MLA T. Robindro Singh, who also pulled out of the N. Biren Singh-led dispensation, was not allowed to cast his vote. He lodged a complaint with the Election Commission.