Not yet an open revolt but not all well : Two years in the hot seat
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 11 2019 -

It is not yet an open revolt but not all is well within the BJP and it is this which has been conveyed to Ram Madhav, the general secretary of the party and to Ajay Jamwal who is in charge of the North East during their recent visit to Manipur.

Take note of the word ‘yet’ which may imply that it may come out in the open anytime in the near future.

But as in life nothing is certain in politics and one cannot say with any degree of certainty what may happen in the coming days.

Interesting to note that preceding the talk for a change in the leadership within the BJP led Government, fifty percent of the Council of Ministers failed to attend the Cabinet meeting held at Ukhrul district headquarters on June 4.

This means that of the 12 in the Council of Ministers, including Chief Minister N Biren, six failed to appear for the Cabinet meeting.

The question is whether it was a case of failing to attend the Cabinet meeting or preferring to stay away from the Cabinet meeting.

Some case may fall in between the two extremes just mentioned here but it cannot be a co-incidence that six of them failed to turn up for the Cabinet meeting.

It could be something much more than just a co-incidence.

A look at the timing also falls in line with what was reportedly highlighted to Ram Madhav and Ajay Jamwal, coming as it did just a few days before the two Central leaders of the BJP were to visit Manipur.

The belief the absence could have been a precursor of things to come, a message rung out before the two landed in Imphal is too strong to be just waved away.

And this is where it becomes interesting.

Ram Madhav and Ajay Jamval have left and the question of how seriously they have taken the voices of discontent brewing from within the BJP will only be known when there are new developments.

A change in leadership is also a tall order to follow, especially looking at the who is who in the line up of the BJP legislators.

The stand for a change in leadership could mean that those ringing out the voice of discontent could have someone in mind who can be named for the top post, or it could mean that they are open to the idea of the Central leadership of the BJP stepping in and naming the one who can be the leader.

To be sure Chief Minister N Biren must have also worked out his line of defence and must have reached out to the Central leaders who are deemed to be close to him.

As pointed out earlier here, nothing is certain in politics and the dust kicked up may just turn out to be duds with the status quo remaining and lasting the full five year term.

Internal rumblings beginning to rear its head in just a little over two years and while this is not the first time that dissidence has rocked politics and the Government at Imphal, much will depend on how the Central leadership of the BJP respond to the situation.

The coming days on the other hand can only get more and more interesting and obviously the Congress too will be watching the unfolding scenario with interest.