Ahead of Assembly elections in Manipur, National People’s Party leader and sports minister Letpao Haokip joined the BJP in Delhi on Wednesday.

The NPP is an ally of the ruling BJP in Manipur. It has four MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, of which two are ministers.

The switching of loyalty by Haokip, elected from the Chandel constituency in 2017, brought to the fore the tenuous ties between the coalition partners in the government.

The 1976-born first-time MLA joined the BJP in presence of Union minister Bhupendra Yadav and national spokesperson Sambit Patra, who tweeted about the minister and former footballer “expressing” faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “successful principle” of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas” and how his “political and social experience” would help the BJP.

Haokip, reportedly planning to contest from the Tengnoupal constituency, said Manipur can develop only under Modi and Amit Shah’s leadership.

NPP state president N. Kayisii did not share the BJP’s optimism.

He told The Telegraph that Haokip’s departure was not a loss for the party because the party was aware he would jump ship.

“He was keeping away from party meetings. He was showcaused in November but did not respond. We knew he was trying to shift his constituency from Chandel but he will not win,” Kayiisi said.

The NPP state president, also a sitting MLA, further said there will be no pre or post poll tie-up and they will contest anywhere between 35 and 40 seats in the Assembly polls likely to be held in March.

Till now there is no clarity whether the NPP will withdraw deputy chief minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh of the NPP from the ministry headed by chief minister N. Biren Singh of the BJP.

M. Asnikumar Singh, state BJP spokesperson and saha pramukh of manifesto committee, told this newspaper in his reaction that nobody likes to be in a “sinking” ship.

Asserting how things have changed for the better under the incumbent BJP-led government, Asnikumar Singh said, “Days of uncertainty and unrest are long gone. Now, an era of peace, stability, progress and all inclusive development has arrived under the BJP government in the state.

“We also have strong convictions that the people of Manipur will repay the BJP with a thumping majority in the upcoming polls.”

The ruling BJP has set its sight on winning at least 40 seats so that it could function freely from the pull and pressure of a coalition government.

In 2017, the BJP managed to form the government with help of the NPP and Naga People’s Front, among others, but faced a tough time keeping afloat the ruling coalition last year.

The BJP had won 21 seats, the Congress 28 and the NPF and NPP four each in the 2017 state polls. Presently, the BJP has 26 MLAs.

Haokip joined the BJP a day after NPP national president and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma attended a youth conclave in Senaptio district and a day before BJP national president J.P. Nadda’s visit to the state to address a youth rally and hold a meeting with state leaders over the upcoming elections.