Manipur crisis affecting NPP
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 03 2024:
The National People's Party (NPP), a recognised national political party from the northeast region, is potentially on the verge of disintegration due to the current crisis in the state with one side voicing for withdrawing support from the BJP led government and the other valuing the coalition.
The matter regarding whether to continue supporting the BJP-led government in Manipur or withdraw was discussed during a meeting of the party held in Guwahati on September 27 .
NPP national president and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma chaired the meeting which was attended by six out of seven MPP MLAs from Manipur.
Of the six, two raised their opinions to withdraw support from the Biren government.
NPP state president N Kayisii, who could not attend the meeting due to health issues, later wrote a letter to national vice-president Y Joykumar expressing his desire to withdraw support from the Biren government.
The meeting reportedly agreed to declare the party's decision in this regard during the national committee meeting in New Delhi on October 5 .
In the latest development, NPP president Conrad Sangma issued a notification on Wednesday informing that the national committee meeting has been postponed indefinitely, which hint to a potential crack in the party.
At the Guwahati meeting, one MLA even said that he would resign if the party would not withdraw support from the Biren government.
MLAs, opposed to the idea of withdrawing support, voiced concern saying that it would not be wise to pull out as the party is an NDA ally.
With differential opinion among the members, the meeting resolved to discuss the matter further at the national committee meeting.
Mention may be made that NPP secured four seats in the 2017 state assembly elections and played crucial role in the formation of a BJP-led government in Manipur.
In recognition of the party's contribution, all four party MLAs were not only allocated ministerial portfolios but one of them was anointed the deputy chief minister.
The major achievements of the party in the northeast region also raised its status to that of national party in a short period.
With a strong belief in regionalism, some of the party's members are not happy with the way the Centre is handling the crisis in the state and how the state government is working in line with the Centre's directive.
They argued that NPP has own sets of principles and ideologies, and cannot remain as a mute spectator to the situation while advocating for an independent stand free from influences from other parties.
With difference in opinion regarding the matter, some party leaders in the state are expressing possible crack within if the party could not decide on the matter soon.
Some even expressed discontentment with the party leadership saying that one may not remain as party leader forever citing the bifurcation of NCP.