National People’s Party president and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma and Assam BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma started renewed efforts on Sunday to get back the support of four NPP MLAs in Manipur for the N. Biren Singh government.

Sources in Imphal said North East Democratic Alliance convener Sarma had discussed the political situation with the chief minister and other BJP leaders, while Sangma had met the four NPP MLAs on Sunday. All the four were members of the BJP cabinet in Manipur. They had quit the posts while withdrawing support to the government last week.

NPP Manipur president T. Kipgen said on Saturday that the party had pulled out of the “autocratic” government as it had been functioning without a steering committee, common minimum programme and a name for the ruling coalition despite repeated requests.

Kipgen also said the NPP had not been consulted before allocating portfolios to the party’s ministers and announcing candidates for Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections. He said the NPP was unhappy with “objectionable remarks” of BJP spokesperson N. Rajen Singh against then deputy chief minister. All these factors prompted the NPP to pull out of the government, said Kipgen.

His reaction came just before 7pm on Saturday when a patch-up bid involving Sangma, Sarma and state NPP leaders failed to make much headway.

The Opposition Congress and three BJP MLAs who had left the party demanded trial of strength in the Assembly at the earliest to dislodge the “minority” government.

Congress spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei told The Telegraph: “I heard that Meghalaya CM and NPP president Conrad Sangma and Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are in Imphal today (Sunday). Their presence will have no impact even if the Manipur CM is replaced. The only solution is a Congress-led government in Manipur. In democracy, majority is always proved on the floor of the House. I strongly urge Manipur governor to convene a special Assembly session soon. Let their be floor test on Monday. How can the BJP government stay in power with the support of 23 of 52 MLAs?”

In the June 19 Rajya Sabha poll, the BJP nominee defeated the Congress 28 to 24.The Congress and its allies said the defeat was because of the “controversial and discriminatory” role of the Speaker in the conduct of the polls.

Chief minister Singh has said the Rajya Sabha poll result showed who had the majority but the call to convene the special House session was the governor’s.

Sources in the Congress have said the party will move court if the trial of strength is not held soon.