Amidst high-stakes political maneuvering, BJP leadership in Manipur faces challenges in choosing a consensus candidate for Chief Minister. With ethnic aspirations at play, Delhi remains closely involved in resolving the crisis.
BY PC Bureau
A breakthrough in Manipur’s political deadlock is expected by the weekend, highly placed sources in Delhi have indicated. Despite Chief Minister N Biren Singh tendering his resignation on February 9, the process of electing his successor has been stalled due to factionalism within the BJP and ethnic assertions from Kuki and Naga MLAs across party lines.
But Biren Singh’s alleged push to install his chosen successor remains the key hurdle in breaking the deadlock.
A senior BJP leader stated that while all options remain open, dissolving the state assembly is unlikely. “In all likelihood, a new chief minister will be appointed in the next two to three days. Only in an extreme situation would the state assembly be placed under a brief period of suspended animation,” he said.
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Ruling out the possibility of dissolving the assembly and imposing President’s Rule, sources said this scenario is highly improbable since most MLAs would oppose it, given that more than half of the assembly’s tenure remains. “We can’t unsettle every single MLA at a time when the state is facing such difficulties,” said a senior BJP leader.
Efforts are underway to build a consensus on the new chief minister. “This is not an easy task. Ethnic aspirations play a crucial role, causing delays. We need a candidate acceptable to both Kuki and Naga legislators,” the leader added.
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Speculations suggest that Biren Singh is maneuvering to have one of his loyalists appointed as the next chief minister to maintain indirect control over the administration. The aggressive stance taken by the Delhi Meitei Coordination Committee against Union Home Minister Amit Shah is seen as part of Singh’s pressure tactics. It is widely acknowledged that Biren Singh wields significant influence over most Meitei groups both within and outside Manipur.
VIDEO | Manipur: BJP Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra arrives at Raj Bhavan, Imphal.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on Sunday resigned from his post and Governor AK Bhalla accepted the same. He requested the CM to continue in office until alternative arrangements are made.… pic.twitter.com/JAnkQNpuNW
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 12, 2025
Opposition leaders, especially from the Congress, have long accused Biren Singh of having links with militant organizations like Arambai Tenggol. Under such circumstances, the BJP leadership is treading cautiously, as further antagonizing Biren Singh could prove detrimental while selecting a new chief minister.
Under the circumstances, the BJP could ill afford to appoint a handpicked man of Biren Singh because that would once again throw a spanner in effort to placate the Kuki community.
Amidst this uncertainty, BJP’s North-East Coordinator Sambit Patra has been actively engaged in resolving the crisis. He met Governor Ajay Bhalla at Raj Bhavan for the third time on Wednesday.
After a meeting with Patra, NPP chief and party MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan said that the party has decided to back the BJP govt in Manipur. This is seen as a clear indication that efforts are on to cobble together an effective government in the state.
Patra has been camping in Imphal since February 9 on the advice of the central leadership, working to bridge internal divisions within the ruling party. He has been holding extensive meetings with BJP MLAs, seeking a way forward. Today, he met the Governor from 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM, though details of the discussions remain undisclosed. Despite media presence outside Raj Bhavan, Patra declined to comment and proceeded to Hotel Imphal for further deliberations.
Langthabal AC MLA Karam Shyam arrived at Hotel Imphal around 1:30 PM for a closed-door meeting with Sambit Patra, which lasted approximately 30 minutes. Speaking to reporters afterward, Karam Shyam hinted that a significant political development was imminent within the next 24 to 48 hours but refrained from discussing the selection of a new leader.
Khurai AC MLA L Susindro also held a closed-door meeting with Sambit Patra at around 2:00 PM. When asked about the possibility of placing the state assembly under suspended animation or imposing President’s Rule, Susindro declined to comment and quickly left the venue.
