Hectic negotiations on to patch up BJP and NPP
4 NPP MLAs flown to Guwahati on way to Delhi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 23 2020: North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and NPP president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma came to Imphal today too and talked with Chief Minister N Biren, BJP MLAs as well as NPP MLAs to resolve the uncertainty hanging over the coalition Government headed by N Biren.

Sources informed that Himanta Biswa Sarma talked with N Biren twice apart from meeting some key MLAs of BJP.

Himanta Biswa Sarma held a meeting with N Biren at 1 pm before holding another round of meeting at around 4 pm .

Hectic negotiations on to patch up BJP and NPP

On the other hand, NPP president Conrad Sangma held a meeting with the four NPP MLAs of the State on resolving the current political crisis in the State.

As the talks could not arrive at any concrete understanding, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Conrad Sangma left Imphal for Guwahati at around 4.30 pm along with the four NPP MLAs.

Another source informed that the four MLAs would go to Delhi this evening and apprise Union Home Minister Amit Shah their reasons for withdrawing from the Biren-led Government.

They may also lay down certain conditions if they must come back to the BJP-led coalition.

After meeting Amit Shah together with Conrad Sangma, the four NPP MLAs would return to Imphal tomorrow morning, said the source.

Before leaving for Delhi via Guwahati in a chartered flight, Himanta Biswa Sarma told media persons at Imphal airport that the political crisis can be resolved with a cautious and step by step approach.

Responding to queries raised by media persons, Himanta said that they held a productive meeting with NPP today.

"We have talked with other parties too which have been supporting the coalition Government from the very beginning.

It will take some time but the crisis will be definitely resolved in a cautious and step by step manner", he said.

Confiding that some of the issues raised by NPP cannot be addressed at his level, the NEDA convenor said that they were going to Delhi to discuss those tricky and complicated issues with senior BJP leaders.

Noting that different crises and differences in opinion have been regular features of Manipur, Himanta expressed keen desire to bring a permanent solution so as to thwart any future conflict.

"We would like address all the issues raised by NPP MLAs, NPF MLAs and BJP MLAs", Himanta said.

He said that no efforts would be spared to resolve all the issues once and for all so that the Government can concentrate on development and the next State Assembly elections.

Responding to a query about the allegation of Congress party, the NEDA convenor said, "I don't think we need to be quarantined when we came here in the morning with return tickets for the same day.

Nonetheless, I gave a coronavirus-free certificate to the Government of Manipur".

On the other hand, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and Ajay Maken came here with an intention to stay for some days.

It appears that Congress party did not understand this difference, Himanta said.

However, NPP leader Conrad Sangma chose not to say anything at the moment saying that he would only comment when the time is right.