Claiming support of 44 MLAs, 10 NDA legislators meet Manipur Governor seeking ‘popular govt’ in state

Thockchom Radheshyam Singh, who was among the BJP MLAs who met the Governor, told The Indian Express that they had the support of all the legislators in the Manipur Assembly except the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs and the five Congress MLAs. The Manipur Assembly has 60 seats, of which one is vacant owing to the death of an MLA.

Sources at the Centre, however, said it was unlikely that President’s Rule would be revoked any time soon. The priority for both the Centre, BJP leadership and the Manipur state machinery right now was not government formation but peace, and any political movement could derail the process which had started to show results, the sources said.

BJP leaders also stressed that not much should be read into the MLAs’ meeting with the Governor, calling it “a courtesy visit”. An MLA told The Indian Express: “In the BJP, there is a culture of discipline. The central leadership decides who will lead the party. We have to follow that.”

Another leader said that the MLAs were under pressure as they were accountable to the people. The meeting with the Governor was part of normal political activity given the situation, the leader said.

In a statement, the Raj Bhavan said: “A delegation of 10 MLAs called on Hon’ble Governor Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla to discuss the law & order and political situation in Manipur. They emphasized the need to initiate a peace process, strengthen security arrangements, and urged the early formation of a popular government, submitting a memorandum on these key issues.”

Of the 10 MLAs who met the Governor, the BJP leaders were Yumnam Radheshyam Singh, Thockchom Radheshyam Singh, Lourembam Rameshwar Meitei, Thangjam Arunkumar, Kh. Raghumani Singh, Kongkham Robindro Singh, and Paonam Brojen Singh. The NPP’s Sheikh Noorul Hassan and Janghemliung were part of the group, as was Independent Sapam Nishikanta. All but Panmei, who is a Naga, belong to the Meitei-dominated Valley.

Thockchom Radheshyam Singh said: “We went and gave the opinion of 44 MLAs. The way things are going and the pressure from the public, we told the Governor that it’s the right time to install a popular government. President’s Rule is an emergency move, and it should be the last option. If the new popular government fails, you can impose President’s Rule again.”

A source said the BJP central leadership was conscious of the sentiments of the MLAs, who have been seeking “a popular government for some time”, and would reach out to them. “The top leadership is expected to intervene and talk to the legislators,” a BJP office-bearer said.

The peace process in the state is slow-moving, as reflected in the fresh round of protests, and the Centre is said to be wary of both the hiccups still ahead as well as the sensitive border situation.

Over the past three months of President’s Rule, the Centre has initiated several measures such as calls to different groups to surrender looted weapons. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also set a deadline of March 8 for resumption of uninterrupted mobility between the Meitei and Kuki areas, though that has run into problems.

But, the lukewarm response of Kuki organisations, which have claimed they are not being involved in the talks, notwithstanding, the Centre is confident that it is “on the right track”. “An unsteady government in the state at this time could hurt the Centre’s efforts,” the senior BJP leader familiar with the developments said.

A BJP leader said: “Even all the weapons have not been surrendered yet. There are perhaps 3,000 firearms still out there.”

BJP leaders point out that there is also little guarantee that the MLAs who have apparently come together for government formation would be able to keep their differences aside, given the ethnic divisions. The first hurdle, for example, would be the choice of chief minister. “We do not see a possibility of unanimity,” said a source.

The other big hurdle is N Biren Singh, who was the CM under whom the conflict started and who held his post till President’s Rule was imposed, despite many calls to replace him. A leader pointed out that the main demand of the Kukis is that Biren be kept out. “So how can we have a government with his involvement?” said the leader.

Exactly a month ago, on April 29, the same 10 MLAs along with 11 others of the NDA had written to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister seeking a popular government in the state. These did not include Biren or the circle of MLAs close to him.

Radheshyam told The Indian Express Wednesday that they had reminded the Governor about the letter. “All 44 MLAs are united in favour of formation of a popular government in the state. We have to respect public demand.”

On the leadership question, the BJP MLA said: “We have not proposed the name of any individual. The Centre can select a leader of its choosing. We had a very long discussion with the Governor, and he said that he would look into the matter.”

The NPP’s Sheikh Noorul Hassan also said they had the support of 44 MLAs.

However, L Susindro Meitei, one of the MLAs seen as close to Biren, claimed to be unaware of Wednesday’s political development and disapproved of it. “It is very inappropriate for a group of legislators to stake a claim just by saying they have a majority. Normally, this is something to be done by the party’s legislative leader.”

However, Susindro added, “We appreciate that they have highlighted the prevailing grievances in the state.” —With inputs by Vikas Pathak