BJP northeast convenience store Himanta Biswa Sarma said Manipur crisis would be resolved (File)
Guwahati:
Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s right-hand man for the northeast, said that the political crisis in Manipur, where his party is struggling to stay in power, will be resolved within three days. The government of chief minister Biren Singh was plunged into turmoil last week after nine deputies, including four from the main NPP ally and three from the BJP, withdrew their support.
Sarma, who also heads the BJP’s anti-congressional political platform in the northeast – a group of regional parties called the Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA) – said negotiations with the NPP were underway and that ‘a positive result was expected.
“The situation in Manipur is under control. I will return there and we will speak to all our deputies. This will be well resolved. All discussions are taking place in a positive atmosphere and, within two or three days, positive the result will emerge “Sarma told media at a press conference in Guwahati, Assam, on Monday.
The NPP (National People’s Party) had previously said that the “autocratic manner” with which the BJP had led the coalition government in Manipur had led his party ministers to resign and withdraw support for the government of Biren Singh.
The declaration came on a day when Conrad Sangma, the head of the BNP and the chief minister of Meghalaya, was in Manipur; he had accompanied Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“The situation will change since many people are disqualified. There will be major shifts. Once the President has adopted an order, he can no longer be revoked. The architecture of government will be more or less the same; we will continue in the spirit of NEDA and NDA. We will work with a principle of friendship, “said Mr. Sarma.
Manipur BJP spoke exclusively with GalacticGaming, the head of state, Dr Saikhom Tiken Singh, admitting differences with the NPP.
“There were differences (but) problems such as common minimum programs could have been resolved through dialogue between the two parties. We agree that there is instability (but) in the event of a ground test, we will be able to collect the figures. We are confident about it. “, he said, insisting that the Manipur government had done” a remarkable job “and the credit goes to all the coalition partners.
Meanwhile, the new Secular Progressive Front – a congressional-led alliance to which the four NPP deputies have committed – said the four legislators would not return to support the BJP.
“We spoke (to party leader Conrad Sangma). He tried to convince us but we explained our position to him. We will not succumb to any pressure,” said L Jayantakumar Singh, one of the deputies and former minister of health.
Congress downplayed last-minute efforts by Himanta Biswa Sarma, state unit spokesman N Bhupendra Meitei saying, “What magic will Himanta Biswa Sarma do in two or three days to resolve this crisis internal?”
