The Manipur state BJP unit held a meeting on Friday in the wake of the resignation of three party MLAs from their official posts this month and requested party MLAs “not” to speak on party matters on social media without “prior” approval.

Playing down the resignation of three MLAs from their posts — one as an advisor to the chief minister and two as chairman of government undertakings — in the past nine days, a ruling party MLA, who attended the party meeting at its Imphal headquarters, said around eight MLAs did not attend the nearly two-hour meeting where issues regarding the organisation were discussed.

He said: “Around 8 MLAs, including those who have resigned from their official posts, did not turn up but they had also requested for leave. Therefore, resignation is not an issue. It was a regular party meeting but we have been asked not to speak on social media on party matters without prior approval.”

The ruling party MLA said the key issue discussed at the meeting was preparations for the April 30 episode of Maan Ki Baat, the radio programme hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said one of the points raised by P. Brojen Singh, who quit as chairman of the Manipur Development Society, was discussed.

“There was no discussion on the resignation as such except the point raised by P. Brojen Singh on the delay in clearance of PWD bills. The PWD minister clarified that it was because of a court issue which is being resolved,” the MLA said.

Before Singh, Thokchom Radheshyaam had quit as advisor to CM on April 13 followed by Karam Shyam, chairman of Manipur Tourism Corporation, on April 17.

Radheshyam and Shyam had resigned from their official posts as they were not assigned "any" responsibility while Brojen Singh resigned on “personal grounds”. They all used social media to air their grievances.

Chief minister N. Biren Singh too said there was “no” crisis in the state BJP and those who did not attend had "sought" leave of absence.

However, the party insiders said a few more resignations are on the cards by those who are “unhappy” with the “centralisation” of power in the BJP-led government.