Kuki, Meetei MLAs attend BJP convention
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 17 2024:
With the approach of the Lok Sabha election, a two-day national convention of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) commenced from Saturday at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
The BJP national convention held primarily to chalk out party's strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha election was inaugurated by president JP Nadda in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kuki-Zo ministers in the Chief Minister N Biren Singh-led BJP government in the state and other MLAs who remained invisible/inaudible ever since they openly demanded 'separate administration' within days of eruption of violence on May 3, 2023 and never took part in the government activities for the past nine months took part in the national convention along with some Meetei ministers and MLAs though they could not physically meet for the past nine months or so.
As per reports received here, chief minister N Biren, Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker Th Satyabrata, CAF & PD minister L Susindro and health minister Dr S Ranjan were unable to attend the convention due to their hectic schedules.
However, BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sharda Devi, majority of ministers and MLAs along with state MPs took part in the convention on the first day.
Office bearers of BJP Manipur Pradesh and district presidents also attended the convention.
Though Kuki-Zo ministers and MLAs took part in the convention jointly with Meetei ministers/MLAs and BJP state leaders, what strategies they chalked out to strengthen the party in the state could not be immediately ascertained.
The BJP national convention participated by chief ministers of states/Union Territories, ministers, MLAs and party leaders commenced from 3pm with opening remark by party president JP Nadda.
Addressing party leaders on the opening day of the convention, PM Narendra Modi said that the party's symbol 'Lotus' will overwhelm entire candidates of the party in the upcoming election and advised party leaders and workers to ensure that the party gets at least 370 seats in the election.
The opening day of the convention was also attended by Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, BJP MPs, core committee members and senior leaders of the party.