Cracks in Manipur’s BJP widen as 19 of 37 MLAs skip chief minister’s meeting – Times of India

GUWAHATI: The division in the Manipur unit of the BJP over CM N Biren Singh’s handling of the ongoing tussle deepened on Tuesday after 19 of the saffron party’s 37 MLAs representing both sides of the ethnic divide walked out of the previous meeting had skipped the evening. NDA meeting in which a resolution was adopted to do everything possible against the ‘Kuki militants” are believed to have killed six Meitei prisoners from a shelter for displaced persons in Jiribam.
Amid unconfirmed reports that the CM’s secretariat had issued notices to 11 NDA members, including ministers, for abstaining from the meeting, Biren Singh issued a video message in which he vowed to “take all necessary measures to regardless of their community.”
Letters were sent to all MLAs of the BJP and its allies on Sunday for a meeting to decide on an appropriate response to the latest cycle of violence, within hours of Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma’s NPP backing the NDA government withdrawn, citing the CM’s inability to resolve the crisis.
NDA has a strength of 53 in the 60-member assembly. The alliance includes seven NPP MLAs, five from Naga People’s Front (NPF), one from JD(U) and three Independents, one of whom is a Kuki. Seven of the BJP’s 37 legislators are Kukis, all of whom were absent from the meeting. Surprisingly, four of the NPP’s seven lawmakers participated in the discussion despite the party no longer supporting the Biren Singh government.
A prominent absentee from the BJP was Rural Development Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. Three party MLAs and one from the NPF announced in advance that they would not be able to attend the meeting, citing health problems.
The opposition bench consists of five congressmen and two members of the Kuki People’s Alliance.
The broadband outage in Manipur has been lifted, but the ban on mobile internet remains in place
Letters were sent to all MLAs of the BJP and its allies on Sunday for a meeting to decide on an appropriate response to the latest cycle of violence, within hours of Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma’s NPP backing the NDA government withdrawn, citing the CM’s inability to resolve the crisis.
“Today chaired a crucial meeting with ruling MLAs where we strongly condemned the recent killing of innocents in Jiribam. You can be assured that justice will be ensured and strong action will be taken against the perpetrators. Important decisions on Afspa and strengthening law and order were also taken to ensure peace and stability in the state,” Biren Singh wrote on X.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a dig at what he called the divided house of the BJP in Manipur. “The writing on the wall is clear. But does the great sutradhar of Manipur – Union Home Minister – to whom the Prime Minister has abdicated and outsourced all responsibility for the state read this?” he wrote on X.
Addressing a press worker at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi along with PCC chief K Megchandra Singh, he demanded that Shah and CM Biren Singh resign for failing to stop Manipur from “burning”.
Meanwhile, the Manipur government on Tuesday conditionally lifted the power outage in the valley districts, citing the problems faced by citizens, healthcare institutions, educational institutions and other institutions. Mobile internet data remains suspended.
Authorities also announced a relaxation of curfew in Imphal East, Imphal West and Kakching districts from 5am to 10am on Wednesday to allow people to purchase essential items. Restrictions on gatherings and protests would remain in place during that period.