Did BJP leaders promise two Cabinet berths to NPF?
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 17 2017: Some quarters have started asking whether BJP National leaders Ram Madhav and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa promised two Cabinet berths to the Naga People's Front (NPF) at the time of forming the coalition Government led by Chief Minister N Biren .

Notably, one NPF MLA was among the Ministers who were sworn in on March 15 this year along with Chief Minister N Biren .

An NPF source informed that NPF leaders and BJP leaders met at Guwahati on March 13 when BJP was making hectic efforts to form Government in the State .

The NPF leaders who came from Kohima to Guwahati in a helicopter for the meeting included leaders of the party's Manipur unit .

Did BJP leaders promise two Cabinet berths to NPF?

Citing their stand to support any political party other than Congress in forming a Government in Mani- pur, the NPF leaders assured their support to BJP .

During the meeting, Ram Madhav and Himanta Biswa reportedly promised the NPF leaders that one of their MLAs would be included among the Cabinet Ministers who would be sworn in in the first phase while a second NPF MLA would be sworn in as Cabinet Minister 45 days later .

After the Guwahati meeting, the four NPF MLAs submitted written declaration to the Governor pledg- ing support to BJP on March 14 .

As assured at Guwahati, one NPF MLA was among the first batch of Ministers who were sworn in on March 15 together with Chief Minister N Biren.

However, no second NPF MLA has been inducted into the Council of Ministers even though the Government has already completed 100 days in office .

Notably, six Congress MLAs namely S Bira, O Lukhoi, S Surchandra, Ngamthang Haokip, Ksh Biren and P Brojen who pledged support to the BJP led coalition Government has not been given any post.

Yet, some of them have been expecting ministerial berths .

BJP may have their own difficulties in fulfilling their promise of inducting one more NPF MLA into the Cabinet but NPF is one political party which is known for consistency between its actions and words .

NPF does not mind whether two of its MLAs have been given ministerial berths or not.

The party's primary agenda are peace and development, said the NPF source .

Although the BJP-led coalition Government has coined a slogan "Go to hills', some SDO/SDC offices do not have even latrines.

NPF is deeply concerned with such inconsis- tency yet the party is not in favour of giving more attention to the hill areas.

It does not support any division between hill people and plain people .

To deliver good governance in both the hill districts and valley districts is the foremost wish of NPF, said the source.