BJP on the back foot
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: April 08, 2025 -

AT the national level, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to be unperturbed by the slight setback suffered in the last Lok Sabha elections as the BJP-led NDA coalition still commands comfortable majority in both the houses, though the same cannot be said about the Manipur unit of the saffron party primarily due to solution continuing to elude the Kuki-Meetei conflict.

Apart from the conflict leading to dismissal of the N Biren-headed government in February and consequent promulgation of the President's Rule, there is no doubt that failure to restore normalcy, in the real sense, for nearly two years has started to create an uneasy situation among the party's rank and file, particularly over apprehension that the people might not have faith in the party as and when the assembly election is conducted.

With outcome of the last election for the two parliamentary seats in the state clearly signifying erosion of BJP's support base when its arch rival Congress secured victory by comfortable margins, the BJP central leaderships are certain to be aware by now that without bringing a solution to the Manipur crisis the party would be in no position to retain power in the next assembly election.

That the saffron party is passing through a critical phase has also been reflected by Thangmeiband assembly constituency MLA Kh Joykisan and BJP state president A Sharda Devi during their speeches at the 46th foundation anniversary function held on Sunday when both appealed to the supporters to continue extending support and strive for strengthening the organisation.

There might be substance in MLA Joykisan's assertion that the wrong perception regarding the BJP would be cleared in the near future and people would realise that it is the only party which has been sincerely thinking and working for the people of Manipur.

However, it's an undeniable fact that the Kuki-Meetei clash broke out when BJP and its allies were holding the rein of power, with the crisis claiming the lives of 200 people, displacing thousands of families and many daily wagers still struggling for two square meals a day.

Despite outbreak of the violence, the coalition government continued to rule state for nearly 19 months but could neither end the conflict nor launch effective crackdown on those involved in abetting the crisis.

As such MLA Joykisan's statement that the party workers are undergoing a trial by fire of facing litmus test on how much they are willing to sacrifice for the people, the land and the party could be construed as an attempt to enliven spirit of the disheartened party loyalists.

Apart from the on-going conflict, what hurt the party workers the most was the dispute among the BJP legislators with an apparent bid to bring down the N Biren government, thereby laying bare the fact that the saffron party has no shortage of leaders with crab mentality.

Thus, along with keeping aside personal differences, the decline in incidents of violent confrontations between the Kuki and Meetei communities should be capitalised upon by the BJP leaders to regain the lost ground failing which there is strong possibility that the party might face shortage of candidates for the next assembly election.