Amidst renewed political rumblings in Manipur, the BJP’s Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra arrived in the state on Monday and conducted marathon meetings, including with former chief minister N Biren Singh and Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh.
Patra was last in the state to oversee Biren’s resignation in February and had met with MLAs across NDA parties in the valley during the interim period between his resignation and the imposition of President’s Rule.
The ’s formal position is that President’s Rule was imposed because no one staked claim then to form government.
This present visit comes less than a week after 21 NDA MLAs from the state wrote to Prime Minister and Union Home Minister urging that a popular government be restored in the state. These MLAs did not include Biren and the circle of MLAs close to him.
While Speaker Satyabrata was not one of the signatories of the letter, he is a key leader many of the signatories are rallying around for the formation of a new government.
Patra landed in Imphal International Airport around 9 am on Monday and immediately flew to Churachandpur district on a chopper. There, he reportedly had a joint meeting with two Kuki-Zo MLAs, Vungzagin Valte and LM Khaute, and also met with leaders of civil society organisations.
After returning from Churachandpur, Patra headed straight to Biren’s residence and had a closed-door meeting which lasted for over an hour. Later, he visited the Yaiskul residence of Speaker Satyabrata and then met former minister Y Khemchand Singh. He also held a series of meetings with MLAs, including from other NDA parties.
MLAs part of Biren’s close circle publicly denied that the discussions were about installing a popular government in the state.
Speaking to , BJP MLA Y Sushindro said, “Some of the ruling MLAs met Sambit Patra and discussed matters confronting the state, particularly ensuring free movement along the national highways for all. We also requested him to make sure that groups in the hills give up their arms like we did in the valley. No talks about formation of government was in the agenda today.”
