Former Manipur speaker Irengbam Hemochandra Singh quits Congress

Guwahati: In another major jolt to the Congress party, former Manipur Speaker and Minister Irengbam Hemochandra Singh quit the party all in a hurry on Sunday.

It is a major blow to the Congress party amidst the election campaign with which the former speaker was associated.

Hemochandra, 59, is a five-time MLA from Singjamei and he submitted his resignation letter to the state Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh, saying he would like to convey his ‘complete lack of faith and confidence’ in the party.

“I took this decision with a heavy heart. Congress has no relevance in Manipur,” he told the media, terming the party as “rudderless and a sinking ship,” said the MLA.

He also added that talent and sincerity are not important to the Congress leaders in the state.

Congress has fielded JNU professor, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary seat and former MLA Alfred Kanngam S Arthur from the scheduled tribe reserved Outer Manipur turf.