Imphal, Feb 3: Taking a cue from its Goa unit, the Congress party in Manipur has made its candidates take pledge at major scared places that they will not defected to other parties.

In Manipur, candidates of Congress party took pledge first in historic Kangla Fort, then in MBC Church Imphal, Govindajee Temple, and also in Mosque and Sanamahi Temple. The pledge of allegiance was headed by former Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh along with AICC in-charge Bkhakta Charan Das.

While talking to media persons at Kangla Fort O. Ibobi Singh said Congress party believes in the secular fabric of the country as such the party decided to take pledge in all the major religious places of different communities in the state. The candidates’ took pledge that they will not defect to other political parties after they get elected from Congress party. They also took pledge that they will abide by the rules and regulations of Congress party.

The latest move of the grand old party comes in the backdrop of the party legislators defecting to BJP in the previous term.

AICC in-charge Bhakta Charan Das said some of their MLAs who defected to BJP have disrespected the mandate of the people as they were elected on Congress ticket. At the same time, he accused BJP of using mala fide means to divide the Congress.

He further stated that BJP came to power not because of the mandate of the people but by artificial means that is why this pledge is required to respect the mandate of the people of Manipur.

He also said that JD(U) was not in the scene in the last state elections, however, it’s sudden rise is a ploy of BJP it to divide the Congress party.