A Manipur Congress leader on Monday evening moved disqualification petitions against the

five sitting JDU MLAs who joined the ruling BJP in September.

The five petitions were filed by Hareshwar Goshwami, vice-president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, before Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, counsel for the petitioner Ningombam Bupenda Meitei told The Telegraph.

The JDU had won six of

the 60 Assembly seats in the two-phase state polls held in February-March this year.

However, the five MLAs merged with the BJP on September 2, less than a month of the JDU ending its alliance with the BJP in Bihar.

The Assembly Speaker had accepted the merger of the five JDU MLAs with the BJP on September 2. The five MLAs were welcomed to the BJP by its national president J.P. Nadda and chief minister N. Biren Singh in Delhi on September 4.

The five MLAs were Thangjam Arunkumar (Wangkhei Assembly seat), L.M. Khaute (Churachandpur), Khumukcham Joykisan Singh (Thangmeiband), Ngursanglur Sanate (Tipaimukh) and Mohammed Achab Uddin (Jiribam).

The BJP’s strength went up to 37 in the 60-member House follwoing the merger.

Congress spokesperson Meitei had tweeted that the merger was not only unconstitutional but also attracted disqualification.

The Congress is one of the allies of the JDU in Bihar.