Patra Ji, no one for CM ?

Free Thinker *

Sambit Patra :: Pix - TSE

Shri Sambit Patra, (Puri MP) NE in-charge from Jaganath Khetra was trying his level best for 3 and half days to restore a democratically elected BJP government in Manipur after the resignation of Shri Biren Singh.

Even with his best efforts he could not reinstate a BJP government or BJP led government in the State despite the fact that they still command a majority in the State Assembly. Perhaps he was not getting the required cooperation from the party MLAs. Moreover five prominent leaders were tacitly competing among themselves for the top post.

Though I have a law degree from the Campus Law Centre 2 of Delhi University my understanding of the Constitution and other related laws is very limited because as students we hardly read seriously and we simply depended on Duki ( Bazar guide for simply clearing the paper). However we have some idea about who can be a Chief Minister of a State .

The qualification to become a Chief Minister of a State or Union territory like Delhi /Pondicherry – first, a person should be a citizen of the country; second he/she must attain the age of 25; he/she should be a Member of the Assembly (instantly or within six months); he/she must have the majority support of the MLAs; he/she should have a sound mind ( normally, we ignore it ).

As per this criteria Sambit Patra ji could have been the Chief Minister of Manipur . We know that almost all the BJP MLAs and few Independents are always with him. They have full confidence in him.

In order to save the BJP government he should have claimed to form the government. I mean, he should have gone to the Governor to stake the claim to form the government. And all BJP MLAs should have been taken to the Raj Bhavan along with him.

If Sambit Patra does not want to resign from Lok Sabha and become Manipur CM - that is a different matter ; but he could have been the viaduct for saving the government . Because all sides know him as a playmaker .

All the MLAs know him. They are quite confident that he can easily handle the administration which is now run from the Raj Bhawan . In a way, to become the CM of Manipur at this juncture is no joke – extremely risky - even though the security part is taken care of by an experienced hand coming directly from the Raisina hills.

If there are 5 serious contenders for the post of CM he could have asked them to agree on balloting (lottery) in presence of all of them . The one who wins should have been inducted as the CM. This democratic process is as old as the Chola times .

I really don’t know whether such a system existed in Kalinga or Utkal. Balloting/lottery have been part of our democratic process for ages. If there was no consensus they could have resorted to this method. It may sound bizarre but seriously it could save the day.

If nothing was working out, Prata ji himself could have saved the Government. Still he can . The Assembly has not been dissolved. It is now kept under suspension and it is still alive and kicking.

One more advantage of Patra ji is that he will be accepted by all his MLAs ; happily he could have been CM of Manipur for 5 months and 29 days ( if he does not want to continue as CM by becoming an MLA ) . In the meanwhile an alternative can be worked out.

Peace loving people on both sides are happy to learn the fact that few sensible citizens have started talking to one another through phones or otherwise. It is high time the moderates and common people come forward and sit together and have parleys – for finding an amicable solution. I feel that the majority of the people still believe in the idea of Manipur and peaceful co-existence.

Some critics are of the opinion that the one side has got their demands met e.g., – CMs resignation and PR. What does the other side get? Baba ji ka thulu. Optimists are trying to appease them saying that the assurance given by the Establishment for the territorial integrity of Manipur is an encouraging thing. They taunted back – we have been listening to this since the time of Vajpayee when the Naga dialogue was seemingly stumbled beyond territorial limits.

How long the other side will remain satisfied with the assurance that their motherland shall be intact (the merger territorial status of 1949 will remain as it is). Something must be done beyond repeated assurances given by BJP leadership and Sangha top brass.

Why can’t a permanent provision be added to the Bharat Constitution either within Article 3 or Article 371C saying that “the territorial integrity of the State of Manipur shall always remain sacrosanct”?

If no one is found suitable for CMship , Patraji can try non MLA options – by the way I am also available.