Could 10 NDA MLAs Support the Formation of a Popular Government in Manipur?

Imphal, May 28 (NationPress) Following a meeting between former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, 10 NDA MLAs approached the Governor on Wednesday, asserting they have the backing of 44 legislators in the 60-member Assembly to establish a popular government in the state.

The group comprises 8 BJP members and 2 from the National People’s Party (NPP). They submitted a petition to the Governor, featuring the signatures of 22 legislators advocating for the formation of a new government.

A statement from Raj Bhavan indicated that the MLAs have requested the Governor to hasten the establishment of a popular government in the region.

According to the statement, "10 MLAs met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan in Imphal today and discussed the law and order situation along with the political climate in the state. The topics covered included initiating a peace process based on mutual understanding and enhancing security measures.”

Post-meeting, BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam Singh asserted that 44 MLAs are prepared to support the new government in Manipur.

“However, the final decision regarding the formation of the new government lies with the central leadership of the BJP,” he informed the press.

He expressed concerns over the hardships faced by the populace, stating, “In the previous term under the first BJP government, we lost two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the current term, over two years have been lost due to ethnic conflicts.”

The 60-member Manipur Assembly has been under suspended animation since the imposition of President's Rule on February 13, with a tenure set to last until 2027.

Biren Singh met the Governor on Tuesday to discuss restoring peace and addressing other critical matters of the state.

A senior official reported that Biren Singh, who resigned from his position on February 9, just four days before the introduction of President’s Rule, urged Bhalla to take prompt actions to resolve pressing issues, including illegal immigration.

BJP Rajya Sabha member from Manipur, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, previously expressed optimism about establishing a popular government within the next two months, calling for unity among political leaders to tackle the challenges faced by the state.

He noted, “President’s Rule alone cannot resolve the ongoing issues. A popular government can effectively collaborate with the people and address the current ethnic crisis,” he conveyed to the media.

BJP’s North East in-charge, Sambit Patra, visited Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts earlier this month, meeting Kuki BJP MLAs Vungzagin Valte and Nemcha Kipgen, along with various Kuki-Zo and civil society organizations, including the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU). Kipgen was the sole female Minister in the Biren Singh-led government.

During his three-day visit, Patra held private meetings with Biren Singh, Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, and other leaders and MLAs in Imphal. However, details of the discussions were not disclosed by either Patra or the BJP.

This visit followed a letter from 21 MLAs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting the reinstatement of a “popular government” in the state.

According to a legislator, most of the 21 MLAs are affiliated with the BJP, while others are from the National People's Party (NPP), the Naga People's Front (NPF), and Independents.

In their letter, the MLAs conveyed to the Prime Minister and Union Home that the people of Manipur welcomed President's Rule with hope, yet no significant measures to restore peace and normalcy have been witnessed thus far.

Aiming to address the prolonged ethnic tensions, the first tripartite meeting involving officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and representatives from the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities occurred in New Delhi on April 5. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the apex body of the Meitei community, also met with MHA officials in New Delhi, reaffirming its dedication to restoring peace in the state.