BL SANTOSH ASSURES EARLY FORMATION OF POPULAR GOVERNMENT IN MANIPUR
BJP national general secretary (organization) BL Santosh assured for the formation of popular government in Manipur at the earliest, convener of state BJP legislator party’s convener claimed on Friday.
As many as 25 MLAs of the state BJP are currently camping at New Delhi to press the party Central leadership to reinstall popular government in the state currently under President’s Rule.
Commencing their campaign for the reinstatement of a popular government, a six-member delegation of MLAs comprising Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata and former chief minister N Biren Singh called on with the BJP national general secretary (organisation) at latter’s residence at the national capital on Friday.
Sources here said that the six-member delegation of the state BJP MLAs visited the residence of BL Santosh around 11 am.
The delegation also included MLAs – Yumnam Khemchand, Thongam Biswajit, Kh Ibomcha and Konthoujam Govindas.
The meeting, which lasted for about an hour, focused on the role of the state legislature in facilitating the peace process initiated by the Central government, said convener of BJP legislators party MLA Kh Ibomcha, in a statement issued after the meeting.
The meeting also deliberated on the formation of a popular government in the state, it added.
During the discussion, BL Santosh assured that a popular government would be formed at the earliest after thorough consultations and deliberations on the matter.
The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere, reflecting the collective commitment to restore political stability and strengthen peace efforts in the state, the statement added.
The BJP MLAs currently camping at New Delhi had earlier called on with party north east coordinator Sambit Patra on Wednesday and discussed the matter of formation of the popular government.
It was during the meeting that Sambit Patra agreed to arrange a meeting between the MLAs and BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh.
Sambit Patra reportedly convinced the BJP MLAs that the Central leaders have no willingness to extend President’s Rule further in the state while talking about the formation of a popular government in the state shortly.
At the same time, the MLAs highlighted the difficulties they were facing under the President’s Rule, claiming that they were under immense pressure from party workers and supporters of their respective Assembly constituencies to form the popular government. They further tried to convince Patra of the problems BJP MLAs are likely to face in the next general elections to the Manipur Legislative Assembly due in 2027.
The MLAs also aired at length on several major issues of the state while urging Patra to make necessary arrangements to convey their grievances to the top party leaders.
On the other hand, Sambit Patra reportedly convinced the MLAs saying that the Central leaders were well aware of the current issues of Manipur and working hard to bring a concrete solution to the protracted crisis by way of reconciliation between the two communities in conflict.
Manipur has been besieged by violent conflict that unfolded on May 3, 2023 that had claimed over 260 lives besides displacing over 60,000 people.
The protracted crisis coupled with mounting pressure for leadership change, the then chief minister N Biren Singh was forced to tender his resignation as the chief minister on February 9, 2024 following which the Centre imposed President’s Rule on February 13.
The PR which was imposed for a period of six months was later extended for another six months, till February next year (2026).