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Journalism of Courage
The letter by 21 Manipur MLAs seeking a “popular government” in the state contains critical messages to the Centre regarding the indeterminate situation that continues to prevail in Manipur, two years after the ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kukis began.
First, the 21 included 13 BJP MLAs (from the Meitei-dominated Valley) who, disgruntled with Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s leadership through the crisis, pressured the party to get him to resign, paving the way for President’s Rule in February. Besides the BJP, the signatories included MLAs belonging to its allies NPP (National People’s Party, 3 MLAs), NPF (Naga People’s Front, 3) and 2 Independents.
Second, while the Centre has held that it had to resort to President’s Rule and not continue with a government as there was no contender to form one, the letter by the MLAs – sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier this week – suggested that this was not the case.
At 21, the MLAs comprise one-third of the 60-member Assembly, making them a significant faction. They claim they have the remaining numbers needed to form a government. The magic mark is 30, since the effective strength of the House is down to 59 due to the death of a member. “There are at least 35 MLAs who will lend support to form a government. We are hoping for some development on this front by May 15. We are ready to stake a claim,” one of the signatories of the letter told The Indian Express.
While one signatory said the CM could be any leader of the BJP high command’s choosing, another said the majority’s choice was Th. Satyabrata Singh, the Speaker of the current Manipur Assembly and one of the key dissidents leading up to Biren Singh’s resignation. Last week, Satyabrata was in Delhi, and was said to have gone there to meet central leaders.
Of the 59 current MLAs in the Manipur Assembly, 37 are from the BJP; 12 from its partners NPP (6), NPF (5) and JD(U) (1); 2 from the Kuki People’s Alliance; 5 from the Congress; and 3 Independents.
Third, the letter said that the installation of a popular government “is the only means to bring peace and normalcy to Manipur”. As per one of the signatory MLAs, there is growing restlessness and frustration among the public over the impasse-like situation in the state despite President’s Rule being in place for two-and-a-half months.
“With President’s Rule people wanted to see visible activity, decisive actions and urgency. But the needle has barely moved in the nearly three months since it has been imposed. Absence of violence during this period is not enough. Active violence and exchange of fire between both sides came to a halt long back, several months before President’s Rule was imposed. The Governor had given an ultimatum for the return of arms. Some arms were returned here and there, but what happened after the end of that period? The Union Home Minister ordered that free movement be enabled on the highways and that completely failed. These are half measures,” said the MLA.
As a result, he added, the NDA MLAs are beginning to face pressure. “People are now visiting our houses, we are getting representation from civil society organizations, there are questions as to why no one staked claim to form a government, and calls for resignation of MLAs. And we have seen how that discontent is boiling up, directly targeting us,” said the MLA.
