The danger ahead in Manipur : Political theatre
- Imphal Times Editorial :: November 24 2018 -

The rumours that is going around in the last few days about differences among major political parties in the ruling coalition government is slowly appearing in the public domain.

Major alliance who played vital role in the formation of the N. Biren Singh led government of the BJP; National People’s Party (NPP) started expressing dissatisfaction to the way that the government is treating the partner political party.

Even as the 4 elected members who are holding ministerial post in the government remain silent, the main office bearers of the political party started expressing displeasure to the attitude of the government towards the party.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister of Manipur General Secretary (Organisation) of the National People ‘s Party Kh. Loken Singh stated that during the last 18 months the present state government seem to have forgotten the presences of the alliance Partner NPP in forming the present state government.

The letter was written after the government of Manipur fails to invite the office bearers of the NPP to the ongoing state tourism festival – “The Sangai Festival”.

Well every body knows that there are some loopholes on the side of the State Tourism Department in disseminating invitation cards to even the media persons.

Even the All India Radio Imphal News section was not invited and some of the editors had to collect the invitation card from the Directorate of Information and Public Relation (DIPR).

What is more shocking is that even the Director of the IPR was not invited for the grand tourism festival.

The NPP too knows about it and taking it as an opportunity the NPP Secretary wrote the letter of dissatisfaction over not inviting the leaders of the political party.

This is not the first time that the NPP expressed dissatisfaction to the BJP led government.

During an official talk with some of the NPP Minister, many heard them saying that the BJP is interfering works to even the constituency where there is an NPP MLA with Ministerial portfolio in the government.

A letter written over a petty matter showed that the NPP is planning some sort of strategy as there is likely that the N. Biren Singh led government may reshuffled due to pressure from other BJP MLAs.

May be BJP does not worry about dropping the 4 Ministers of the NPP or perhaps their withdrawal from the government may be considered as not significance as they now have the number to form the government.

It is also possible that the NPF (which have 4 MLAs too) may prepare the same strategy as they too face similar obstacle from BJP candidates.

Only day before yesterday, a Trinamool Congress MLA who had later joined the BJP had a clashed on the opening function of the Sangai festival held at Keibul Lamjao in Bishnupur district.

Now, the congress that has lost 7 MLAs seems to be watching the development carefully.

They filed petition for disqualification of only three MLA leaving 4 others.

First the president of the MPCC filed petition for disqualification of Congress MLA Th. Shyamkumar who defected the party and joined the BJP by becoming a Minister.

The other two defected MLAs filed for disqualification by sitting congress MLA are O Lukhoi of Wangoi Assembly Constituency and Y Surchandra of Kakching Assembly Constituency.

Why the MPCC left 4 of the defected congress MLAs among the 7 is a matter that needs to be carefully observed.

December is coming and it is mandatory that an Assembly Session be called.

The much talk about groupism among the state BJP party, if it really does exist, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh should take good advice from those who care about him and not necessarily from those who supported to his every words and action without studying whether it is correct or not.

The government may be in danger.