Manipur former MP Kim Gangte resigns from BJP

Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 28 (EMN): Former Member of Parliament Kim Gangte has resigned from the primary membership of the party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Manipur Pradesh.
Gangte, who was the former spokesperson and hill area in-charge of the BJP Manipur Pradesh, submitted her resignation to the president of BJP Manipur unit on Wednesday evening.

“It is to inform you with deep regret that I have resigned from my primary membership of BJP Manipur unit with immediate effect,” the letter said.

Speaking to the reporters here at the Manipur Press Club, Gangte said the reason of her resignation was not because of denying the party ticket (for the outer Manipur parliamentary constituency) but also for not having support group.

“I deserve the party ticket being the lone aspiring woman candidate. After all I was the party spokesperson and I have strong connection with the people. I am an ex-MP,” she claimed.

Alleging that BJP is not ready to support any woman candidate, she said, “I’m the living proof.”
However, BJP Manipur Pradesh chief spokesperson, S Tikendra clarified that “it would be wrong to say that there is no place for woman candidate in the party which had been providing pronounceable places for many leaders such as Sushma Swaraj, Nirmala Sitharaman and others.”

Regarding the distribution of the party ticket, he said that it was done by the central election committee of the party based on certain criteria.

“It is natural to have some disappointment. But it does not mean that the party disregard an ex-MP,” he said.
H Shokhopao popularly known as Benjamin Mate was given BJP ticket for the outer Manipur parliamentary constituency.

It may be mentioned that Gangte joined the BJP along with two Congress MLAs — Nemcha Kipgen and Vungjagin Valte in January 2017.