14 BJP MLAs meet in Imphal to discuss government formation
Manipur is under President's rule. 14 MLAs held a meeting with state BJP President
Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi
's in the party office.
Devi told media persons that MLAs discussed formation of popular government.
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On Friday 23 BJP MLAs of Manipur held a meeting at the official residence of former minister Th Biswajit on Friday and asserted that a long-term solution to the crisis in the state was both possible and necessary.
A statement, jointly signed by 23 MLAs stated, "We feel and share the enormous suffering endured by the people of Manipur over the past two years. As elected representatives, we are united in our firm belief that a long-term solution to the crisis is both possible and necessary."
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"Such a solution must rest on the pillars of political will, inclusive dialogue, constitutional safeguards and impartial endorsement of law and order. It is our collective conviction that this journey must be undertaken in close cooperation between the Centre, state, civil society and community leaders," it added.
The meeting was attended by senior BJP MLAs, including Govindas Konthoujam, Y Khemchand Singh and L Susindro Meitei.
"During our deliberations, we thoroughly examined mechanisms for inclusive dialogue involving representation of all communities in Manipur. We strongly support the establishment of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive meditation between Meitei and Kuki Zo communities aimed at building trust and consensus on critical issues," the statement added.
"The meeting also considered the feasibility of formally approaching the governor and the central leadership to appoint a peace envoy or a panel of eminent persons, comprising voices from within and outside Manipur. Such a body operating with full support of the Union government and the state administration would play a vital role in facilitating impartial mediation and bridging the trust deficit among the communities," they said.
"We emphasise the critical importance of inter-community people-to-people dialogue at grassroots level involving local governance institutions, civil society groups, student bodies and religious institutions. This will lay the foundation of healing, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence," the legislators said.
"We underscored the need of central paramilitary forces and state forces to act with strict neutrality and reiterated the urgency of a well-monitored effort to recover looted weapons and disarmament in the hills and the valley," the statement said. The legislators also acknowledged the "public desire to see the formation of a popular government". "We discussed pathways to achieve this with unity and selflessness. We resolve to put aside personal ambitions in the larger interests of the state, its people, and the vision of BJP and its alliance partners in Manipur," they said. "With collective determination and inclusive leadership, we believe the state can once again find its path towards unity and progress," they added.
The signatories of its statement did not include former chief minister N Biren Singh or Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh.
On May 28, 10 NDA MLAs met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in the Raj Bhawan.
The MLAs also submitted a list of 22 MLAs seeking formation of a government.
With BJP falling to find a consensus candidate for the chief ministership, President's rule was imposed on, four days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who was heading a
BJP-led government
for the second term, resigned on February 9, following ethnic violence.
A senior BJP leader, who did not want to be named, said, 'There are too many candidates in the fray for the chief minister ship. Assembly Speaker Satyabrata Singh and former Municipal Administrations, Housing and former Urban Development minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh were vying for the chief minister's post.'
He said two former ministers, including Th Biswajit and Govindas Konthoujam were also in the race.
Over 260 people were killed, more than 1,500 injured, and over 70,000 people displaced after the ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo people on May 3, 2023, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March', organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
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