Mnp BJP MLAs push to reinstate popular govt, threaten resignation

Amid re-surfaced efforts to reinstate popular government in restive Manipur, a BJP MLA on Sunday warned of mass resignation by party legislators from being members of the legislative Assembly if the Central leaders denied them an appointment.
On Sunday, more BJP legislators dashed to New Delhi to join their colleagues, including former chief minister N Biren Singh, who left Imphal for the national on the previous day to press the Central leaders for the reinstallation of popular government in Manipur.
The MLAs took separate flights. Three MLAs -Y Khemchand who is known to be vocal against former chief minister N Biren Singh, U Deben Singh and Th Shyamkumar – took an Indigo flight to Delhi in the afternoon.
Another team of MLAs comprising Speaker Th Satyabrata, also dashed to the national capital by another flight (Air India Express) in the evening.
Among them were Govindas Konthoujam, Kh. Ibomcha, Karam Shyam and S Kunjakishore.
NPP MLA Sheik Nurool Hassan also boarded the same flight.
Responding to queries from a group of reporters at Imphal Airport before departure, MLA Th Shyamkumar Singh said that at the national capital, they (MLAs) will seek appointment with the Central leaders and appraise their demands for restoration of elected government in the state.
When asked what would they do if they were denied an appointment, he said, “We have to resign.”
He said that since the imposition of the President’s Rule in the state in February last, BJP MLAs have been visiting New Delhi to air their grievances while taking up issues, most particularly the ongoing crisis, to the Central leaders and also for the restoration of elected government.
As there is a BJP-led government at the Centre, it is natural to meet the Central leaders and air the plights of the people to them, he said.
He claimed that the people of the state wanted a popular government to be restored in the state and to fulfill what the people wanted was the duty of the MLAs. “If the Central leaders deny appointment, there would be no meaning of remaining in the party. We would have no other option but to tender resignation from MLA-ship,” he said.
Notably, former chief minister N Biren Singh accompanied by three party MLAs – Sapam Ranjan Singh and Heikham Dingo Singh and Tongbram Robindro Singh – had already camped in Delhi on Saturday. They were reportedly joined by MLAs – Dinganglung Gangmei and L Shusildro.
Since President’s Rule was imposed, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have been making efforts to reinstall a popular government in Manipur.
The effort re-surfaced when the former chief minister Biren Singh, before departure for Delhi on Saturday, told reporters that they were going to press the Central leaders for early restoration of a popular government so that the prevailing unrest situation in the state, including the issues concerning highway connectivity, internally displaced persons (IDPs) etc. can be ended.
Sources in the state BJP, familiar with the development, indicated that the MLAs while meeting BJP northeast in-charge Sambit Patra at the national capital would press him to make sure obtaining permissions to meet with top Central leaders, including Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda. If possible, they would seek appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss the political crisis and address the plight of people of the state, particularly of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The legislators, this time, have high hope of the Central leaders considering their demands, the sources added.