Another blessing in disguise
- Imphal Times Editorial :: May 31 2020 -

COVID-19 pandemic turns out to be blessing in disguise for many including the mother earth.

The level of pollution has been gone down, we she wild animals moving freely even on the road, birds chirping on the sky, various rivers across the world free from pollution.

The ongoing lockdown that has been taking up across the country and in the state of Manipur also turn out to be another blessing in disguise for the N. Biren Singh led government.

In addition to the lockdown the disqualification of Andro Assembly constituency Th. Shyamkumar, who was a Minister BJP led government in the state too also co-incidentally adds sugar to the fate of N. Biren Singh led government.

The sequence of events that have been taken place in the political theater in the wake of COVID -19 pandemic is significant and if one dissects it is sure that N. Biren Singh led government will complete the term without much hindrance.

The only problem that need to be tackled is the well balance treatment to all the ruling MLAs by allotting them their share without bias.

If one analyze the sequence of events in the political theatre of the N. Biren Singh government it is learnt that the BJP led government will get full support from the Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) after the induction of Awangbou Newmai in the Ministerial Council.

NPF, which have 4 MLAs in the 60 member state assembly had been demanding for increase in the Ministerial portfolio for quite some times and even threatened to pull out from the government if the demand that they put were not fulfilled.

The party even field their candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat even after knowing that they have only 4 MLAs.

That was perhaps the time that BJP shrewdly negotiated and following that the NPF withdrew its candidate supported the BJP.

The 60 member 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly now has 58 members excluding the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

If in case the fate of Shyamkumar falls to the 7 other MLAs who had joined the BJP then the total seat in the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly will be 51.

Total number of MLAs required by N.Biren Singh government to continue is 26 which he had even without the support of the 4 (four) National Peoples’ Party (NPP) MLAs who are Ministers in the government as Congress now have 20 MLAs.

It is likely that a major reshuffled may take place after the measures being taken up to contained the COVID-19 pandemic has been settled.

If in case the NPP MLAs drop from the government due to misunderstanding the congress will have 24 MLAs that means BJP still will lead the number taking into account the BJP play well with the Independent MLA Ashab Uddin.

Moreover, it is just about 1 years and 8 months left for the N.Biren Singh government and it is likely that his government may not face that much problem as the BJP too needs to prepare for the next election.