Manipur BJP MLAs discuss formation of popular govt

Even as Union home minister Amit Shah recently cited difficulty in the reinstatement of a popular government in Manipur until the ongoing crisis is resolved, discussion among the BJP legislators to form the elected government has commenced.
A few days ago, Union home minister Amit Shah had remarked that the formation of a popular government in Manipur would be difficult until the differences between the Meitei and Kuki communities were resolved,
However in Manipur, there have been reports of MLAs of BJP and its allies holding meetings at their own levels which sources related the agendas to the formation of the popular government.
Amid these reports, BJP Manipur Pradesh chief A Sarda Devi convened a joint meeting of party’s legislators in Imphal on Sunday. The first joint meeting of the party legislators four months after President’s Rule was imposed was attended by as many as 22 MLAs.
The BJP had 37 MLAs at the time of the suspension of assembly on February 13, 2025 under Article 356 of Constitution of India (President’s Rule).
Apart from the seven party MLAs, eight MLAs did not turn up to attend the meeting convened by state BJP president A Sarda Devi at party head office (Thambal Shanglen) in Imphal at 5pm on Sunday.
Eight MLAs were absent from Sunday’s meeting, the state BJP chief revealed while citing that they were out of station.
Apart from Speaker Th Satyabarta, former chief minister N Biren Singh and other MLAs like Y Khemchand, Govindas Konthoujam and Th Bishwajit attended the meeting.
Apart from the seven Kuki MLAs, eight others were also absent from the meeting which state BJP chief A Sarda Devi also cited health concerns and being out of station as the reason for their inability to attend the meeting.
Among the absentees were Th Radheshyam who is known for being vocal against the former chief minister N Biren Singh.
Party sources disclosed that the meeting focused on strengthening party unity, assessing the ground situation, and discussing steps towards reinstating a popular and stable government in the state. The meeting, however, did not take any formal resolution.
After the meeting, former chief minister N Biren Singh said that the state party president convened the meeting to highlight her recent meetings with the party Central leaders regarding restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.
At the same time, the state party president A Sarda Devi disclosed that the meeting was convened to let the MLAs know what the Central leadership told her during her recent series of meetings in New Delhi.
She had camped at the national capital to relay a resolution passed by a meeting of the party MLAs held on May 30 at the official residence of former agriculture minister Thongam Biswajit.
The meeting attended by as many as 23 party MLAs had unanimously decided to push for the formation of a popular government in Manipur. N Biren Singh was not a part of the meeting.
Talking to the reporters after the meeting, Sarda Devi said that during his A. Sarda Devi today said that the party has pressed the Central Government to fulfill the people’s wishes by reinstating a popular government in the state.
She claimed that the people of the state have a strong desire to reinstall the elected government while adding she convened the meeting to chart a new direction to a new popular government.
She said, “We had a meeting over a cup of tea. We gave a report of our recent meeting with our national leaders. We had earlier conveyed peoples’ wishes of having a popular government.”
She added that during the recent meetings with the Central leaders she had brought up the burning issues of the state like the infamous Gwaltabi incident in which the state name was forced to erase from the signage of Manipur State Transport (MST) bus with journalists on board.
“As of now there has been no negative response from the centre,” she added.
Regarding the absence by some MLAs, she said, “Some MLAs who did not attend had given written messages as well. Some of them are out of station as well. Atleast, eight of them were absent from the meeting.”
Former chief minister N Biren Singh, who also faced the reporters while coming out of the meeting, said that during today’s meeting, the party legislators discussed agendas related to restoration of peace and formation of a popular government.
“We also deliberated on the frustration of the people and the hardships faced by the internally displaced persons. Our party president convened the meeting exclusively for the party legislators,” he said.
Singh added that except for a few, most of the legislators were present in the meeting.
“We discussed certain agendas including on how to restore a popular government which the people want as well as on how to bring peace in the state,” she added.
To a query, Singh welcomed the Union ministry of home affairs’ initiative to hold talks with prominent CSOs as a part of the Centre’s effort to resolve the ongoing crisis..
“I appreciate civil societies including AMUCO, COCOMI and FOCS holding talks with the ministry of home affairs. It’s a good beginning. I also heard that the Kuki brothers are also going. We also have given a signal that legislators are ready. I have faith that peace will be restored soon” Singh added.