Punam Rani, Binarani quit Cong

Imphal, Jan 25 : The voice of dissension within the Congress party is growing louder after the  party released the first list of candidate list for the State Assembly election as two office bearers of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) have resigned from the party.
MPCC general secretary Punam Rani Wangkhem and secretary Khoirom Binarani Devi who were Congress aspirants from Kshetrigao and  Konthoujam ACs resigned from the party today at around 7.30 pm.
The MPCC selected Md Amin Shah and Laishram Nando Singh for Kshetrigao and  Konthoujam AC respectively.  
Reportedly, Punam Rani and Binarani are planning to contest the ensuing election on the tickets of other parties so as to not disappoint  their supporters who campaigned with them much ahead of the election.
It is further reported that they have formed a group of seven members including one sitting MLA to switch allegiance to a like minded political  party.
Punam Rani Wangkhem and secretary Khoirom Binarani Devi officially announced their resignation from the MPCC during a press briefing  held at Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai, today.
The two ex-Congress members said that they will submit their resignation letters to AICC president Soina Gandhi, in-charge Manipur Bhakta Charan Das, CLP leader Okram Ibobi Singh and MPCC president N Loken.
Punam Rani said that she was a dedicated Congress member for 38 long years but the party leaders seem to have no respect for women empowerment which they chant so often.
Binarani stated that the Congress party advocating women reservation in the decision making body is just lip service and the same has been validated  by not issuing party tickets to them.
She claimed that all members of the block committee, Mahila committee and youth committee of Congress in Konthoujam AC supported her and as such the party has no significance in the Constituency  any longer.
Former MLA Dr E Dwijamani was the first person to resign from  Congress after the party released its candidates list.
Not only did the former MLA resign from being a member of Congress, he also announced the dissolution of Congress party in Hiyanglam Assembly Constituency during a public meeting held on January 23.
The Congress had given the ticket for Hiyanglam AC to one Dr Huidrom Jiten Singh.