Three BJP Leaders in Manipur Join Congress
Three leaders who were associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Manipur — former MLAs Y. Surchandra Singh (Kakching), L. Radhakishore Singh (Oinam), and party leader Uttamkumar Ningthoujam — formally joined the Indian National Congress at a function held in Delhi. They were welcomed in the presence of AICC in-charge for Manipur, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, and state Congress president K. Meghachandra Singh. The Congress released a statement saying the defections come amid widespread unhappiness over how the BJP managed the Manipur crisis and argued that the Congress is better placed to deliver peace and inclusive governance in the state.
The who, where and how — the basic facts
Let’s get the essentials out of the way. On Monday (reported September 9, 2025), three leaders formerly with the BJP — Y. Surchandra Singh, L. Radhakishore Singh and Uttamkumar Ningthoujam — publicly joined the Congress during a function at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi. The ceremony included AICC in-charge of Manipur Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka and the state Congress president K. Meghachandra Singh, who physically welcomed them into the party fold. The Congress framed the move as a response to “widespread unhappiness over the BJP’s mishandling of the Manipur crisis,” saying the trio’s decision reflected a growing conviction that Congress alone can offer peace, stability and inclusive governance in the state.
- Two ex-MLAs are involved. Former legislators carry grassroots networks — party workers, local leaders, supporters and, crucially, vote mobilizers. When they change camps, they often take at least some of their local ecosystem with them. That’s not a small thing.
- The optics of a Delhi welcome. Being welcomed at AICC headquarters, with the AICC in-charge present, signals that the party at the center is not treating this as a routine local event. It ups the political visibility and underlines that the Congress wants to show strength and momentum in Manipur.
- Framing matters. The Congress didn’t just celebrate their joining — it explicitly tied the move to public dissatisfaction over the BJP’s handling of the Manipur crisis. That’s a political narrative aimed at both local voters and national audiences.
Who are the three leaders?
The reporting names them as:
- Y. Surchandra Singh — a former MLA who represented the Kakching assembly constituency.
- L. Radhakishore Singh — a former MLA from the Oinam constituency.
- Uttamkumar Ningthoujam — described as a BJP party leader (not currently an MLA).
FAQs
Q1: Who exactly joined the Congress from BJP in Manipur?
A1: The three leaders are Y. Surchandra Singh (former MLA — Kakching), L. Radhakishore Singh (former MLA — Oinam) and BJP party leader Uttamkumar Ningthoujam. They were welcomed at the AICC headquarters in Delhi.
Q2: Why did these leaders leave the BJP?
A2: The Congress statement framed their departure as a reaction to “widespread unhappiness over the BJP’s mishandling of the Manipur crisis,” positioning the move as motivated by concerns about governance and stability. That’s the official narrative presented at the time of their joining.
Q3: Does this mean the BJP is losing ground in Manipur?
A3: Not necessarily. Defections can hurt a party’s local organization, but one-off moves don’t always signal broad political collapse. The real test is whether more leaders switch, whether voters shift, and whether the defectors bring their full support bases along.
Q5: What should local voters expect now?
A5: Expect a period of political jockeying: public statements from both parties, efforts to win local loyalties, and possibly promises targeted at the constituencies involved. Ultimately, voters should look for tangible actions addressing security, development and governance rather than only rhetoric.
