Denied ticket, Manipur ex-MP Kim Gangte quits BJP to join NPP

Imphal: Upset over not being given a ticket, former Lok Sabha MP from Manipur Kim Gangte resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, and joined the National People’s Party (NPP) on Friday.

Though Gangte was the only aspirant for the BJP ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Manipur, she was denied the party ticket. Talking to reporters on Thursday, she had said despite claims by the BJP leaders the party does not respect women. “The slogan to save the girl child is hollow as is established by what is happening in Manipur and elsewhere,” she said. The BJP handed out the party ticket to Benjamin Mate.

The NPP is aiming to bag a sizeable number of MPs in the northeastern region. The NPP is a coalition partner of the BJP in Manipur. All its four MLAs were made Cabinet ministers. In return, the NPP agreed not to field any candidate in the Inner Manipur constituency. However, there will be a “friendly contest” between the BJP and the NPP and some other coalition partners in the reserved Outer Manipur constituency. The resignation, and charges levelled by Gangte, are likely to hamper the election of the BJP candidate. (IANS)

Also read: Manipur News