Manipur BJP discontent: Trouble mounts for CM Biren; third MLA quits from government post in a week

On April 13, former cop and Heirok MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh resigned as the CM’s advisor. Four days later, Karam Shyam, who represents the Langthabal constituency, followed suit and quit as the chairman of the Manipur Tourism Corporation. Both cited the “lack of responsibilities” behind the resignations from their respective posts.

The three are among the MLAs who are reportedly camping in Delhi to voice their grievances to the BJP high command. The developments have led the Manipur unit of the party to call for a high-level meeting on Friday. According to sources, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra, who is also the party’s Manipur in-charge, is expected to attend the meeting.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one of the MLAs told The Indian Express: “Things are not well in the state BJP…In a democratic country, one expects a democratic leadership…not a monarchy.”

He alleged the CM “favoured development” only in some constituencies. “In his son-in-law’s constituency (RK Imo Singh of the Sagolband constituency) you will see activities every other day…Our workers ask why no development is happening in our constituency, but I have no answer to give,” the MLA said.

The Indian Express reached out to state BJP president A Sharda Devi for comments, but an aide said that “she could officially speak only after the Friday’s meeting”. BJP state vice president Chidananda Singh said the state party leaders had not received any “official complaint” from the MLAs. “Issues and grievances are common in all parties, not just the BJP. There is no internal problem at the party level,” he said.

The MLA said the three legislators – out of whom Thokchom Radheshyam and Karam Shaym had been Cabinet ministers in Biren’s first term – were not demanding “new posts”.  “We want to work as a team…We expect him [the Chief Minister] to MLA like a team player, and carry his MLAs along,” the legislator said. He added that he had met BJP leader Patra in Delhi, and discussed the matter.

This is the second term of the Biren Singh-led BJP government. Biren’s tenure, especially his first term, has not been without hiccups, and was marked by a number of run-ins with his Cabinet colleagues who have often criticised him for his “high-handedness”.

In 2020, Biren had divested his deputy chief minister Y Joykumar Singh all his portfolios, after the latter allegedly criticised the CM’s assurance of food security during the lockdown.

The chasm almost led to the then ally National People’s Party – to which Joykumar  belonged – pulling the plug on the BJP government. The crisis was, however, averted at the last minute.

BJP insiders played down the recent developments. “I am not denying that there are issues… There are grievances, but those are between the chief minister and his legislators. Unlike earlier, there is no big rift within the party leadership,” a senior leader said.