Claiming support of 44 MLAs, 10 NDA legislators meet Manipur Governor seeking ‘popular govt' in state
A group of 10 NDA MLAs met Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, and later said that they had cited the support of 44 MLAs for the formation of a popular government in the state.
The 10 MLAs are BJP's Yumnam Radheshyam Singh, Thockchom Radheshyam Singh, Lourembam Rameshwar Meitei, Thangjam Arunkumar, Kh. Raghumani Singh, Kongkham Robindro Singh, and Paonam Brojen Singh; Sheikh Noorul Hassan and Janghemliung from the NPP; and Independent Sapam Nishikanta. Nine of the MLAs are from the Meitei-majority Valley, while Panmei is a Naga.
'We went and gave the opinion of 44 MLAs – given the way things have gone and the pressure from the public, we expressed to the Governor that it's the right time to install a popular government. President's Rule is an emergency move, and it should be the last option. If the new popular government fails, you can reimpose President's Rule again in full throttle,' Thockchom Radheshyam Singh, one of the 10 MLAs, told The Indian Express.
He said they invoked the support of all the MLAs in the Manipur Legislative Assembly except the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs and five Congress MLAs. The Manipur Legislative Assembly has 60 seats, of which one is vacant owing to the death of an MLA.
On April 29, a group of 21 NDA MLAs had submitted letters to both the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister seeking the installation of a popular government in the state. These did not include former CM N Biren Singh or the circle of MLAs close to him. The 10 MLAs who met the Governor on Wednesday were among the 21.
In the April 29 letter, they had written that there had been 'no visible actions to bring peace and normalcy in the state' since the imposition of President's Rule on February 13, and that 'installation of a popular government is the only means to bring peace and normalcy in Manipur.'
'We also handed over that letter to the Governor to say that we had already written to the Prime Minister on this issue. All 44 MLAs are united in favour of the formation of a popular government in the state. We have to respect the demand from the public. We have not proposed the name of any individual to lead the government. The Centre can select a leader of its choosing. We had a very long discussion on the road ahead with the Governor, and he said that he would look into the matter,' said Radheshyam.
Sheikh Noorul Hassan, one of the 10 MLAs, also said they have the support of 44 MLAs on the formation of a popular government.
However, L Susindro Meitei, one of the MLAs close to Biren Singh, claimed to be unaware of the development. 'I have no knowledge of the political development which unfolded today. However, it is very inappropriate for a group of legislators to stake claim just by claiming to have a majority. Normally, this is something to be done by the party's legislature leader. But we appreciate that they have highlighted the prevailing grievances in the state.'
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