The BJP said on Thursday that N. Biren Singh-led government in Manipur was stable and would complete the full term with four MLAs of the National People’s Party pledging their support anew.
The four MLAs met governor Najma Heptulla in Imphal on Thursday and submitted to her a letter of support to Singh. The four had withdrawn the support last week, saying they were unhappy with Singh’s style of functioning.
The demanding pulled out of the government on ruling BJP has outwitted the Congress by managing the continuance of the N Biren Singh-led government in Manipur.
The demand for a floor trust by the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front, formed on June 18, has apparently fallen flat for now after the four National People's Party MLAs returned to the BJP-led government fold on Thursday afternoon after withdrawing support to it on June 17, plunging the incumbent dispensation into a major crisis. The quartet were unhappy with Singh's style of functioning.
The four MLAs -- Y Joykumar Singh, L Jayantakumar Singh, N Kayisii and Letpao Haokip --- submitted a letter of support to the Singh government to governor Najma Heptulla in Imphal soon after their return to Delhi with NPP president Conrad Sangma and North East Democratic Alliance convener Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The BJP-led government had plunged into a crisis with withdrawal of support by nine MLAs, including the four NPP MLAs, one Trinamul Congress MLA, one Independent and resignation three BJP MLAs, reducing the government into a minority two days ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls. Led by Congress, they also met the governor and sought a floor test at the earliest. The BJP nominee, however, won the Rajya Sabha polls 28 to 24 votes despite the Congress claiming majority, a sign that the ruling party was not giving up without a fight.
Manipur state BJP president S Tikendra Singh told The Telegraph that the crisis has blown over. " There will be no change in leadership and the four NPP MLAs are supporting the government. The issue is settled but have no details," Singh said.
The U-turn by the NPP MLAs followed two rounds of talks between them, Sarma and Sangma on Sunday and Tuesday followed by another round in Delhi with BJP president JP Nadda and Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday. Sangma and Sarma had on Wednesday tweeted that both the parties will continue to work together in the interest of Manipur.
At the Imphal after their arrival from Delhi, Sangma said that they had a very fruitful discussion with Nadda and Shah wjere they have conveyed their concerns and grievances, including Biren Singh's style of functioning.
" The BJP leadership gave us a patient hearing and assured to address all issues. As such we will continue to work together in the interest of Manipur and its people," Sangma said before leaving to Raj Bhawan with the four MLAs.
The government released a pictures of the their meeting with the governor, conveying the issue has been settled.
Congress spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei took a dig at the ruling BJP, " The only way for BJP to be in power in Manipur is by using the CBI against Congress MLAs,manoeuvering Raj Bhavan to slow down any constitutional attempt for Congress,with allies,to form a government and by piling pressure on Manipur MLAs by calling them to Delhi.
Meitei reference to CBI was the questioning of former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh in a fund misappropriation case on Wednesday. Ibobi had staked claim to form the next government.
Political watchers in Imphal, however, said that BJP once again proved smarter than the Congress. They formed the government in 2017 without not having the numbers, won the Rajya Sabha without numbers and saving the party-led government without a floor test . " Congress came short once again when it came to dealing with allies," one of them said.
