Around 10 NDA MLAs met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan, seeking the formation of a "popular" government in the state
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla
at the
Raj Bhavan
on Wednesday, seeking the formation of a "popular" government in the state. The delegation included MLAs from the Naga People's Front (NPF) and
National People's Party
(NPP).
Manipur has been under the President's rule since February 13. Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh is in New Delhi to meet the BJP leadership.
The MLAs while meeting the governor also submitted a list of 22 MLAs who are in support of formation of a government in the state. Independent MLA of Keishamthong assembly constituency S Nishikant Singh told media persons in Imphal, 'It has been three and a half months that President's rule is imposed in Manipur and a majority of people want a popular government to be installed.' He added, 'We discussed the functioning of the President's rule and the issue of
law and order
with the governor.'
Expressing optimism that a popular government will be formed soon, he said, 'We are appealing to the governor to form a popular government and a lot of MLAs have signed the letter. For the sake of Manipur, all the NDA MLAs Manipur are keen on having a popular government. To have a smooth formation of the government, we need the support of the public also. The letter which we gave to the governor today is the same letter we gave to Prime minister Narendra Modi earlier.'
Confirming the move, BJP MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh said that they are ready to form the next state government. "We informed the governor that 44 MLAs are ready. We also discussed possible solutions to the ongoing issues in the state," said Singh.
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This comes a day after former chief minister
N Biren Singh
met the governor at Raj Bhavan.
With BJP failing to find a consensus candidate for the chief ministerial candidate, President's rule was imposed in Manipur, four days after chief minister N Biren Singh, who was heading a BJP-led government for the second term, resigned on February 9.
A senior BJP leader, who did not want to be named, said, 'There are too many candidates in the fray for the chief ministership. Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh and former minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh were vying for the CM post.' The BJP leader further said that two former ministers, including Th Biswajit and Govindas Konthoujam were also in the race.
Over 260 people were killed, more than 1,500 injured, and over 70,000 people displaced after the ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo people on May 3, 2023, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March', organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Former chief minister's security downgraded
Manipur Police has scaled down the security assigned to the former chief minister N Biren Singh. A total of 17 police personnel in Singh's security have been detached from their duties. The order, signed by the
Director General of Police
, instructed these personnel to report back to their parent units immediately.
Now only six security personnel will remain with the former CM. This team will comprise three assistant sub-inspectors, one head constable, and two constables. However, he will continue to remain covered under the 'Z' category and will continue to have four to six CAPF personnel with him.
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