Speculations on replacement of chief minister
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 07, 2025 -

LEGISLATORS loyal to chief minister N Biren would be hoping that the 'summoning' of Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker Th Satyabrata, ministers Thongam Biswajit, L Susindro, Govindas Konthoujam, and handful of BJP MLAs to Delhi by party's central leaders has nothing to do with speculations doing the round about possible change of guard in the state but to hold discussions on the prevailing unrest situation and other party matters.

As had been widely reported, CM Biren took a Delhi-bound flight on Wednesday afternoon, which was followed by five BJP MLAs chartering a flight to the national capital few hours later.

Though ministers Biswajit and Govindas were quoted by news agencies as saying that their destinations are Uttar Pradesh for the on-going Kumbh Mela, both taking the chartered flight is the primary factor for the speculation that they might have been summoned to present their side of the story regarding rumours about political dissent in the state as well as the unrest situation.

Moreover, while there is no confirmation on who CM Biren met in Delhi, reports about the CM holding talks with BJP national spokesperson MP Sambit Patra could be related to internal matters of the BJP legislators.

In the past too, party's central leaders either summoned BJP legislators or despatched top functionaries whenever there were law and order problems, and dissent over demand for allocation of ministerial portfolios or replacement of the chief minister.

However, after a brief stint at the national capital, the summoned legislators trooped back to the state with the chief minister continuing to helm the affairs and aspirants of ministerial posts made to remain loyal to N Biren.

With the unrest situation in the state seeing no significant change with exception of cessation of gunfights of late, which the chief minister attributes to deployment of central armed police force at strategic locations, it is possible that the BJP legislators dashing to New Delhi might be related to the ensuing state assembly session.

Nevertheless, one can't dismiss reports about an aide of minister Khemchand disclosing that several MLAs are dissatisfied with the administration of the current government since the violence broke out in Manipur.

The aide also revealed that Khemchand met some ministers at his residence last week during which those gathered were unanimous that union minister Amit Shah must be told to address the grievances faced by MLAs since the violence erupted, and entrusted Khemchand to impress upon the central leaders to meet the MLAs individually and hear their coitcerns.

Taking into account reports about raising a no confidence motion in the House against the chief minister by the opposition, possibility of the BJP ministers and MLAs asked to remain united to defeat the motion cannot be ruled out, for the central leaders are certain to be aware that replacement of the chief minister at this juncture would make no difference to the conflict.

Moreover, the demand for and consequent cutting short N Biren's second term in office might trigger public unrest as replacement of the incumbent chief minister is also main objective of the Kuki legislators and civil society organisations, thereby likely to invite wrath of the valley dwellers against group of legislators lobbying to remove the chief minister.