Imphal, Jan 17: From the past experience in which the bunch of defections by its MLAs and top leaders, the state Congress leadership termed BJP poachers and said it is changing strategy by “the day and hour” to rein in deserters.
According to a senior PCC spokesperson, this move comes in the wake of a former MLA and veteran Congress from the valley going incommunicado for the last two days.
The spokesperson termed Congress as a powerful party that will not be easily defeated by BJP’s moves.
However, he refused to divulge details of the strategy but said the grand old party’s tact is right on track.
Admitting that Congress has been battered by the series of defections to BJP, the senior spokesperson informs that, “What is more unfortunate is that BJP is encouraging the poaching of MLAs despite the anti-defection law being enforced.”
He also stressed that “We are battered but not disheartened. BJP sees us as the only powerful and deep-rooted party which will defeat them in the ensuing polls. Therefore, they plan to poach as many winnable leaders as they can.”
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The spokesperson also predicted BJP’s downfall by saying, “BJP downfall is imminent because they now have too many ticket seekers and they will trigger an infighting that will definitely pull down the saffron party.”
“Our target is to win an absolute majority in 60-member House. If not, we will emerge as the single largest party. We are fielding more than 50 candidates and will distribute the tickets soon we will not enter into pre-poll alliances. However, post-poll pacts with NPF and NPP after the election to form the next government are on the cards,” he further added.
Notably, Congress-ruled Manipur for 15 years under Okram Ibobi Singh and became the single largest party with 28 legislators in the 2017 election. BJP with 21 MLAs, however, outmaneuvered the grand old party by poaching an MLA even before his swearing-in and formed the government with help from NPP, NPF, TMC, and LJP and an Independent candidate.
