RK Imo hits back, targets O Ibobi

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 21: Congress MLA RK Imo who represents Sagolband AC in the State Assembly has categorically stated that his expulsion from the Indian National Congress (INC) was done at the fancy and whim of CLP leader Okram Ibobi.
Notably, on the recommendation of the MPCC disciplinary action committee, RK Imo was expelled from INC for a period of six years with effect from August 20.
However, a press release issued by RK Imo contended that MPCC had no reason to expel him from INC in such a gross and arbitrary manner.     
“I was expelled by the MPCC despite complying with the INC party whip and also voting in favour of INC on August 10 against the confidence motion raised by the BJP led State Government”, Imo said.
“My expulsion has only proved that CLP leader Okram Ibobi will continue to run the INC as he pleases and the few other so called leaders will blindly follow him without application of mind. If at all, I was to be expelled, it should have been done after the Rajya Sabha  election when I voted for the titular king, and not now after having voted for Congress in the Assembly session against the motion of confidence raised by the BJP-led Government”, he said.
“This act shows his personal vendetta against me and my family, which goes long back to the time when I was denied the Congress party ticket to contest the Assembly Election in 2007 and 2012 under his personal whims. Being the Chief Minister, he ensured that I would not be able to contest from Congress Party in both those elections. It was only in 2014, my party MSCP merged with INC after due permission and approval from Rahul Gandhi just before the Lok Sabha election. Despite that, preference was always given to the then Congress candidate over an elected MLA inspite of being the person who led the merger. I was always sidelined despite being a third generation Congressman”, he continued.
This kind of leadership is the very reason why the INC which originally had 28 MLAs in the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly, is drastically reduced to about 15 MLAs (2 MLAs abstained from the Assembly session).
It was for the very same reason that 6 INC MLAs resigned from their respective seats and the Congress Party recently. These MLAs themselves stated that they resigned from the party due to lack of faith in the CLP leadership and his selfish actions without any ideology.
“However, by my expulsion order dated 20/8/2020, it is clearly proved that Congress Party does not care about the people of Manipur but it is meant to subserve one and only person namely Okram Ibobi Singh”, Imo asserted.
Many Congress MLAs resigned from their respective PCC posts which was aimed to show that the PCC leadership was also weak, thus ensuring a change of the PCC president by someone who is close to the CLP leadership. All the PCC resignation drama by MLAs was the brainchild of a few MLAs very close to the CLP leadership This kind of dirty politics will only result in the further downfall of the Congress Party in the State, he said.
He went on to ask why should they follow an outdated leader who has been rejected and disowned by one of his own family members/MLA, who went to the extent of resigning from his seat and party and subsequently joined BJP.
He then appealed to all the MLAs in the State, cutting across party lines, to lead from the front and focus in their respective constituencies to fight against the deadly coronavirus, particularly when it is spreading like wildfire across the State, and resulting in more deaths.