IMPHAL, Oct 7 - Ruling Congress MLA Nongthongbam Biren Singh resigned as a member of Manipur Assembly and also from the party on Thursday in protest against �lack of means� of Okram Ibobi Singh headed State Government in handling issues of public interest.
With his resignation, five sitting MLAs have so far quit membership of the present Assembly. Congress MLA Yumkham Erabot Singh had quit the party before resigning from membership of Assembly recently.
Four MLAs belonging to Naga People�s Front (NPF) also resigned recently as members of the Assembly over passing of three ILP related Bills in the State Assembly last year.
Biren�s decision is seen as a move to �embarrass� Congress ahead of the crucial State Assembly polls due early next year. �I will contest the next Assembly polls if the people wish so,� he told journalists at his private residence. But he did not disclose which political party he is planning to join.
Launching a sharp attack on Ibobi Government, he said the key issues facing the State have been left unaddressed. Biren said he cannot continue as a lawmaker taking into consideration the prevailing political situation in the State.
He said the government has not been able to resolve a slew of problems faced by different communities and cited the obstacle in passing of a new ILP related Bill in the Assembly.
