Sambit Patra talks normalcy, peace with BJP MLAs but....
Election of new CM not on the agenda yet
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 10 2025: After Nongthombam Biren stepped down from the post of Chief Minister, BJP North East in-charge and National spokesman Sambit Patra today held talks with many BJP MLAs separately but election of a new Chief Minister is not on the agenda yet.

As such, the State could be heading towards animated suspension.

Sambit Patra who came to Imphal together with Chief Minister N Biren on a chartered flight on Sunday has been putting up at Imphal and monitoring the unfolding political situation.

He held talks with the BJP MLAs who demanded replacement of Chief Minister N Biren as well those MLAs who wanted N Biren to continue as the State's Chief Minister.

Sambit Patra talks normalcy, peace with BJP MLAs but....

Sambit Patra held a closed door meeting with Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata at Hotel Imphal at around 11 am.

They talked for around 30 minutes.

RD&PR Minister Y Khemchand and MLA Thokchom Radheshyam also held one to one meetings with Sambit Patra separately.

In the afternoon, Sambit Patra talked with Education Minister Thounaojam Basantakumar, Hill Areas Committee Chairman Dinganglung Gangmei, MLA Thounaojam Shyamkumar and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh one after another.

Some BJP Ministers and MLAs who talked with Sambit Patra said that their meetings focused on bringing an end to the protracted crisis.

They said that the meetings discussed very little about electing a new Chief Minister or forming a new Government.

Article 174 of the Indian Constitution lays down that Assembly sessions should be held at least once in six months.

The 6th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly was held on August 12, 2024.As such, the next session should be held by February 12, 2025 .

With the BJP Central leaders saying or doing very little to elect a new Chief Minister till date, the State is heading towards animated suspension, said some BJP MLAs and key leaders.

Responding to queries raised by media persons as he came out of the meeting, Khemchand said that he talked with Sambit Patra on how to bring peace and normalcy in Manipur.

On being enquired about changing BJP legislature leader, Khemchand said that the matter would be decided by the party's high command.

As of now, no one has been named for the post of the party's legislature leader, he added.

On being enquired about the Chief Ministerial candidates, the BJP MLA representing Singjamei AC maintained that the party's high command would decide the matter.

"We don't know what decision the party's high command would take.

We must accept the decision taken by the high command as per the party's tradition", he said.

He also exuded confidence that a reconciliation process would be initiated soon between the two communities in conflict.

Notably, Chief Minister N Biren tendered his resignation letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on February 9 .

Accepting his resignation letter, the Governor asked N Biren to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister.

Following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren in the midst of the violent conflict which has been besieging the State for the past 21 months, a very unstable political situation is gripping the State.