Power struggle gains momentum : 17 MLAs petition PM, party president to replace Biren
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 12 2019:
The power struggle and the attempt to replace N Biren Singh, who has nearly completed two and a half years as the Chief Minister of the State, is gathering more steam with 17 MLAs submitting a petition to the Prime Minister and the party National president (as well as Union Home Minister) Amit Shah, yesterday, once again demanding that Biren be replaced as the CM.
Prior to submitting the petition, a team of BJP MLAs also went to Guwahati and submitted a similar demand to Himanta Biswa Sarma, convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and also the Finance Minister of Assam.
According to a reliable source, the said MLA team reached Delhi today and have camped there to pressure the Central leaders to replace Biren as the CM.
Most of the MLAs consist those who are on the side of Th Biswajit, the source informed, adding that out of the 21 BJP MLAs, 17 have submitted a memo to the PM and the Union Home Minister to do the needful and replace Biren at the earliest.
On the other hand, Chief Minister N Biren Singh cancelled his plans to leave for Delhi today to take part in a BJP National office bearers meeting.
The source explained that in the recent Lok Sabha election, Th Biswajit was in-charge for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency while CM Biren was in-charge for the Outer Constituency.
Claiming that the National leaders are concerned with the BJP's failure at the Outer Constituency, the source added that the Central leaders and the MLAs have been divided due to the actions of the present CM during the time of the Manipur University and CAB crisis as well as the announcement made by him regarding Ministry reshuffle.
The source continued that the memo submitted by the MLAs did not specify whom to choose as the CM if indeed Biren is replaced but unofficially, many have expressed that the MLAs will gracefully accept anyone deemed suitable for the post by the Central leaders.
It may be mentioned that during the Cabinet meeting at Ukhrul, CM Biren announced that the Ministers would be reshuffled which was taken as a threat and in bad taste by many Ministers.
It may also be mentioned that many of the Ministers are disappointed with the Chief Minister for bypassing them and instead giving instructions to the officials of the Department concerned.
Many within the party are also not happy with the CM for not attempting to take more funds from the Centre for the development of the State despite BJP being in power at New Delhi.
On the other hand, Speaker Y Khemchand has left Imphal for Delhi today but it is still not clear if this is related to the current political situation in the State or not.
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