Assam Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said there would be an “architectural change” for resolving the political crisis in Manipur . NEDA is a Bharatiya Janata Party-fronted forum of major regional parties in the northeast.
Marathon meeting
Mr. Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma had taken a special flight to the Manipur capital Imphal on Sunday and had a marathon discussion with the four National People’s Party (NPP) lawmakers who pulled out of the BJP-led alliance along with five others, including three of BJP, on June 17. This had reduced the Nongthombam Biren Singh government to a minority two days ahead of the Rajya Sabha election. However, the BJP managed to win the sole seat from the State.
Mr Sangma is the national president of the NPP. Their discussion with the NPP lawmakers and others key players in the alliance went on for nine hours before they caught the flight back at 10 p.m. The NPP lawmakers saw them off but returned to the hotel where the Opposition Congress MLAs are camping, raising speculations that the talks had failed.
Manipur political crisis | BJP pursuing patch-up with NPP to secure government in Manipur
“I think the situation is more or less under control. I am going to Manipur again tomorrow. We are consulting with all our MLAs. Things will be resolved nicely and there is nothing to be worried about,” Mr. Sarma told newspersons in Guwahati on Monday.
Byelections likely
“I think you will see a good result in the next two-three days. After the RS polls, many people were disqualified. Manipur will go for by-elections. So basically, the architecture will be a bit different but more or less, we are continuing with the principle of friendship and the spirit of NEDA and NDA,” he said, declining to elaborate.
The NPP’s Manipur unit had earlier said Mr. Biren was making it difficult for their MLAs to remain in the alliance. The party’s State president Thangmilien Kipgen had reportedly briefed Mr. Sangma about the Chief Minister refusing to form a steering committee to address the trust deficit among the coalition partners.
The other partners in the alliance are the Naga People’s Front and Lok Janshakti Party while the lone Trinamool Congress MLA — disqualified on the day of RS election — and an Independent MLA quit along with the four NPP legislators.
Mr. Kipgen also alleged in a handout that Mr. Biren refused to announce a common minimum programme, give a name to the alliance government, consult or even inform the coalition partners while taking important decisions and snatch portfolios from their MLAs whimsically.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson K. Joykishan said that the BJP leaders have been sending feelers to the three BJP legislators who had resigned to return to the party fold. He also reminded Governor Najma Heptulla of his party’s demand for a no-confidence motion against Mr. Biren in the Assembly. Congress spokesperson Okram Joy also slammed Mr. Biren Singh for saying there was no need for a vote of confidence after BJP candidate Leishemba Sanajaoba, Manipur’s titular king, won the Rajya Sabha election.
The Governor on Monday summoned the Chief Minister to reportedly discuss the political crisis in the context of the Congress demanding a special Assembly session for the trial of strength.
