MPCC raises 5 questions to Bhalla

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 22: The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has  raised five questions to the Governor with regard to the current status of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
A team of MPCC led by AICC executive panel member Advocate N Bhupenda Meitei went to the Raj Bhavan this afternoon and submitted a memorandum signed by MPCC president Keisam Meghachandra to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
Speaking to media persons at  the Raj Bhavan gate after submitting the five-point memorandum, Bhupenda said that the memorandum asked whether the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly as it stands today should be concluded as alive or dead.
The memorandum asked whether the present 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly as it stands since February 12, 2025 is Constitutionally deemed to be dissolved.
The MPCC also asked the Governor to state the current status of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly  keeping in view Article 174 of the Indian Constitution.
It went on to question whether it should be concluded that the present 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly has necessary conditions for the Governor to dissolve the Legislative Assembly under Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution of India.
The memorandum further asked, “Is it to be concluded that any actions or orders of the Governor of Manipur in future to summon the next Assembly sitting as per Article 174 of the Constitution of India, if in case, a new Chief Minister is to demonstrate his/her floor test in the Legislative Assembly, would tantamount to a violation of the Article 174(1) and hence the Governor would be Constitutionally barred from summoning the sitting of the next Assembly session of the remaining term of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly ?    
Bhupenda said that they expect a written reply to their questions from the Governor.
Article 174 (1) clearly lays down that there should not be a gap of more than six months between two successive sittings of the State Assembly.
On the other hand, Article 174 (2)(b) authorises the Governor to dissolve the State Assembly, he said.
The office of the Governor issued an order on January 24, 2025 whereby a sitting of the State Assembly was convened from February 11, 2025.
However, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren on February 9, 2025, the office of the Governor issued another order on the same day whereby the order issued on January 24 was declared null and void.
Bhupenda said that the memorandum submitted to the Governor today made reference to certain observations/orders of the Supreme Court and quoted a special case of Gujarat State Assembly of 2022.
The MPCC team which submitted the memorandum to the Governor included its general secretary (organisation and legal affairs) Md Wahidur Rahman, legal department chairman Advocate M Shyamcharan and legal department convenor Advocate L Brojen.