Chaoba rules out quitting BJP
Source: The Sangai Express

Impal, Jul 28: Notwithstanding the heavy pressure being exerted on central leaders of BJP to remove former MP Th Chaoba from the primary membership of BJP Manipur State Unit, the veteran politician is refusing to give up his membership.

Talking with The Sangai Express, the former president of the BJP State Unit said that he has not received any intimation or instruction from National leaders asking him to resign from the primary membership of the party.

He remarked that BJP is not a political party to give in or apologise to anti-social elements.

former MP Thounaojam Chaoba.

When asked if his recent trip to Delhi was related to the issue, he conveyed that he went there on July 19 after he was called by BJP national president Rajnath.

On the next day he took part in a detailed discussion on organisation of the party and State Assembly elections and prospects of BJP along with Rajnath, Venkiah Naidu, Sanjoy Joshi and other leaders of the party.

Rajnath asked me if I could take charge of the forthcoming State Assembly elections in Manipur, and I assured the Central leaders of my commitment, disclosed Chaoba.

During the hour long discussion, the national leaders did not mention aything about his resignation from the primary membership, he conveyed while maintaining that he would never resign from BJP.

On the question of BJP's prospects in the 9th Assembly elections, Chaoba who is also a member of the BJP national executive committee, noted that at the time of elections in Manipur, not only BJP other parties too face restrictions from one 'group or another'.

During the Imphal Municipal Council elections, BJP did not face any restriction from any quarter.

The incidents of firing into the homes of some BJP candidates might have been personal matters, he opined adding that such incidents happened to candidates of other political outfits too.

When asked if the party would be able to field adequate number of candidates, he said that BJP would field the largest number of candidates after Congress in the upcoming elections and BJP has been working for it, he disclosed.

Chaoba informed that in a move to revamp the party organisation, a new president for BJP State unit would be elected soon for which M Bhorot has been appointed chief returning officer.

To look after the reorganisation of the party ahead of the assembly elections, BJP vice-president Thawalchan Gelot would be coming to Manipur soon, Chaoba said.

It is pertinent to mentioned here that the proscribed KYKL has been prohibiting the BJP State Unit from undertaking electioneering and other related activities demanding total ouster of Th Chaoba from BJP State unit.

Taking into account of the adverse impacts of such restrictions on the party, BJP MLAs and members have been urging the national leaders for the ouster of Chaoba, though without success.