On January 9, senior Congress legislator and Manipur PCC vice-president Chaltonlien Amo defected to the BJP, a day after the Election Commission announced the election to the 60-member state assembly.
Former Manipur PCC president Govindas Konthoujam previously left the party:
This happened just after former MPCC president Govindas Konthoujam, joined BJP in the presence of senior leader Sambit Patra and Manipur chief minister N Biren in New Delhi on August 1 last year.
Senior BJP leaders welcomed Amo:
Amo was given a warm welcome by senior BJP leaders — chief minister N Biren Singh, party in-charge for Manipur election and Union minister Bhupender Yadav, state party president A Sharda Devi — at the state BJP headquarters at Keishampat here in the morning.
N Loken on Amo’s exit:
While speaking to the Times of India MPCC president N. Loken stated, “Amo’s departure will not affect our party’s electoral status at all. He left because of severe pressure from the BJP and other elements in the hills. We suspended him on Sunday for anti-party activities.”