Assam minister and North East Democratic Alliance convener Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday night said the BJP and its ally National People’s Party “will continue to work together for the development of Manipur”, as both the parties stepped up efforts to save the N. Biren Singh government.

Sarma said this in a tweet after a delegation led by Meghalaya chief minister and NPP national president Conrad Sangma and “deputy chief minister” Y. Joykumar Singh, had met Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J.P. Nadda in Delhi during the day. Conrad, too, subsequently said the NPP and the BJP would continue to work together in Manipur.

Earlier, senior BJP leader Ram Madhav flew to Imphal to hold talks with the disgruntled leaders, including three who resigned as MLAs and also from the party. Madhav said the BJP-led government would complete its term.

The political crisis began on June 17 when nine MLAs, including four from the NPP, withdrew support, reducing the government to a minority.

The Opposition Congress accused the ruling BJP of misusing the CBI to delay the fall of its government.

CBI officials visited the official residence of former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh in Imphal, and questioned him for two hours in connection with an alleged Rs 332 crore scam. Congress spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei said it was a “political vendetta” and the former chief minister had “not taken a penny”. “Instead of sending the CBI, the Centre should have recommended to the governor to convene a special Assembly session for a floor test to prove the majority of the BJP-led government.”

Ibobi Singh told reporters at Patsoi, around 6km from Imphal, that he would cooperate with the CBI and denied having any hand in the alleged misuse of funds. He said he was ready for any punishment if found guilty.

He did not speak on the political crisis.

State BJP president S.Tikendra Singh said its government was stable.