Latest news with #President'sRule
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Manipur BJP MLAs meet twice in 2 days to reaffirm unity to form government
Amid political uncertainty in Manipur, BJP legislators on Saturday reaffirmed their unity and expressed their commitment to forming a stable government that prioritises development and peace in the violence-hit meeting was held on Saturday at the BJP state headquarters in Keishampat in Imphal, a day after 23 BJP legislators met at former minister Thongam Biswajit Singh's residence in Imphal to form a consensus to prioritise unity among them and form a meeting was held by the party's state president A Sarda Devi. "All BJP legislators are united and we discussed the formation of the government in the current conflict situation. The government should focus on development and also be able to bring peace and normalcy to the state," Sarda Devi told reporters after the her sentiments, Manipur BJP vice-president Chidananda Singh emphasised that the formation of the government lies entirely with the party's central leadership, saying he hoped that they "act in time".The meeting mainly focused on two agendas - accelerating the process of restoration of peace in Manipur and addressing the people's desire for a popular further clarified that internal party issues were not discussed during Saturday's meeting and declined to provide a specific timeline for the formation of the new government. However, he expressed hope that a popular government would be formed MLA Kh Ibomcha also spoke about the next step to be taken in that direction. "We are preparing to form a government. A meeting with central leaders has not been decided yet, but it is likely to happen."Meanwhile, Friday's meeting culminated in a joint resolution to set aside personal ambitions for the larger interests of the state and its BJP legislators expressed a collective commitment to unity, peace and the restoration of communal harmony in Manipur. "We resolved to put aside personal ambitions in the larger interest of the state, its people and the vision of the BJP and its alliance partners," a statement the deliberations, the leaders supported the creation of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive engagement between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo also discussed the feasibility of formally requesting the appointment of a 'peace envoy' or a panel of eminent persons by the Governor and the Centre, to mediate impartially and bridge existing trust BJP huddle came just three days after party MLA Thokchom Radheshyam stated that 44 legislators had agreed to form a popular government, asserting their readiness to act in accordance with the public's will. Notably, this figure excluded the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs and five Congress is currently under President's Rule since February, which was imposed days after N Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister in February, nearly two years after ethnic violence broke out in the Northeastern Watch IN THIS STORY#Manipur#Bharatiya Janta Party
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
In Manipur, push for a return to popular government is understandable
Since the imposition of President's Rule in Manipur on February 13, the state assembly has remained in suspended animation, following the BJP's failure to reach a consensus on a successor to former chief minister N Biren Singh. As the assembly has not been dissolved, it retains the possibility of being revived when the prevailing conditions allow for the formation of a government. Reflecting growing discontent with the present standstill, a group of 10 NDA MLAs met Governor Ajay Bhalla at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, urging the formation of a 'popular government' in the state. They claimed the support of 44 legislators in the 60-member Assembly (one seat currently lies vacant). However, the revocation of President's Rule appears unlikely in the near future — almost 25 months into the ethnic conflict, it is telling that peace remains the immediate priority, not government formation. On April 29, the same 10 MLAs, along with 11 other NDA legislators, had written to the Centre with a similar demand. Their push for a return to a popular government is understandable — after all, the BJP won a mandate in the 2022 Assembly election. The difficulty, however, lies in the nature of the proposed arrangement, which does not include representation for the Kuki-Zo communities. By their own admission, those who claim the support of 44 MLAs have not included the 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs — seven of whom were elected on BJP tickets. The supposed consensus behind the push for a return of popular government, thus, reflects a consensus among the Meiteis, but not between the Meiteis and Kukis. The Centre's hesitation to revoke President's Rule acknowledges the persisting instability in the state — illustrated by the unrest in Imphal less than two weeks ago between protesters and security forces, over the alleged instructions to cover the word 'Manipur' on a state-run transport bus (Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh has expressed regret and announced an inquiry into the incident). While there is some consolation in the fact that there has been no violent standoff between the two communities in recent weeks, significant challenges remain — of rebuilding trust, addressing grievances, and tackling the structural issues that lie at the heart of the conflict. An estimated 3,000 looted weapons remain un-recovered. Thousands of displaced persons remain in relief camps. Kukis and Meiteis continue to be segregated between hill and valley. Only an inclusive political process that brings all stakeholders to the table can offer a path to lasting peace. Without such a process, even a well-intentioned return to a popular government risks another cycle of violence.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Manipur BJP MLAs hold key meet to resolve to form government in people's interest
At least 23 BJP legislators met on Friday evening at former minister Thongam Biswajit Singh's residence in Imphal to form a consensus to prioritise unity among them and form a government. It has been over three months since President's Rule was imposed in the strife-stricken meeting, held amid ongoing tensions and a protracted political impasse, culminated in a joint resolution to set aside personal ambitions for the larger interests of the state and its BJP huddle came just two days after party MLA Thokchom Radheshyam stated that 44 legislators had agreed to form a popular government, asserting their readiness to act in accordance with the public's will. Notably, this figure excludes the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs and five Congress legislators. The BJP legislators expressed a collective commitment to unity, peace, and the restoration of communal harmony in Manipur. "We resolved to put aside personal ambitions in the larger interest of the state, its people, and the vision of the BJP and its alliance partners," a statement legislators acknowledged the suffering endured by the people of Manipur over the past two years of ethnic violence between the members of the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that killed over 250 people, and emphasised the necessity of a long-term, inclusive solution. They identified political will, constitutional safeguards, impartial law enforcement, and inclusive dialogue as essential pillars for resolving the the deliberations, the leaders supported the creation of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive engagement between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo also discussed the feasibility of formally requesting the appointment of a 'peace envoy' or a panel of eminent persons by the Governor and the Centre, to mediate impartially and bridge existing trust BJP MLAs underscored the importance of grassroots-level inter-community dialogue involving local governance institutions, civil society organisations, student bodies, and religious groups. They called for well-monitored disarmament efforts and the recovery of looted weapons across the hills and valley, stressing the need for central and state forces to act with strict the Gwaltabi incident on May 20, the BJP legislators urged the government to initiate dialogue with media representatives and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to arrive at an amicable President's Rule was imposed in Manipur days after N Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister, nearly two years after ethnic violence broke out in the north-eastern Watch IN THIS STORY#Manipur#Bharatiya Janta Party
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Home Secretary likely to visit Manipur next week
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is likely to visit Manipur next week, on June 2 and June 3, in the wake of fresh protests and a 'civil disobedience' call by Meitei groups in the northeastern State over the May 20 incident in Gwaltabi. On that day, security forces allegedly tried to cover the word 'Manipur' on a State transport bus that was ferrying journalists to the hill district of Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily festival. After arriving in Imphal, the Home Secretary is likely to visit the Kuki-Zo areas in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi to review relief and rehabilitation work and the overall security scenario in the State, officials said. In an unprecedented turn of events, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, upon his arrival from Delhi on May 29, had to take a helicopter for the seven-kilometre journey from Imphal Airport to Raj Bhavan as protestors swarmed the roads seeking his apology for the Gwaltabi incident. The Coordination Committee for Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an Imphal-based Meitei civil society group, has called for the removal of all top government officials in the State, including the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Chief Secretary. This week, civilians also locked Government of India offices. The civil disobedience call given by COCOMI continues, with journalists boycotting all government functions and events. After President's Rule was imposed in the State on February 13, there has been a sharp drop in the number of violent incidents, and more than 350 people have been arrested for extortion, abductions, and threatening civilians. However, around 60,000 people who were displaced from their homes when ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei people started in May 2023 are yet to be resettled and continue to live in relief camps. Around 250 people have been killed in the ethnic violence so far. Several civil society groups and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have demanded the restoration of the democratic set-up, and 10 Manipur legislators met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on May 28 at the Raj Bhavan to seek the formation of a 'popular' government. Earlier, on May 5, BJP's North East in-charge Sambit Patra met former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, BJP legislators in the valley and hills, and Kuki-Zo and Zomi civil society organisations. After the Gwaltabi incident, representatives of two different Meitei civil society organisations were called to Delhi to meet A.K. Mishra, the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) North-East Adviser. On April 4, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament that both communities in Manipur 'should understand that dialogue is the only way forward,' and that the Union government is not in favour of continuing President's Rule in the State 'even for a single day.' He reiterated that a Manipur High Court order had triggered the violence in the State in May 2023, adding that the interpretation of the order led to insecurities among the tribal community about losing reservation status and it became a 'tribals versus non-tribal' issue.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
44 NDA MLAs ready to form new government in Manipur
Imphal: A day after former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh held a meeting with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, 10 NDA MLAs on Wednesday met the Governor, claiming that they have the support of 44 legislators in the 60-member Assembly to form a popular government in the state. The ten MLAs - 8 from the BJP and two from the National People's Party (NPP) – have submitted a petition to the Governor with the signatures of 22 legislators seeking the formation of a new government. After the meeting at the Raj Bhavan, BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam Singh claimed that 44 MLAs are ready to support the new government in Manipur. 'However, the central leadership of the BJP would take the decision about the formation of the new government,' he told the media. People are facing a great deal of hardship, he said. 'In the previous term of the first BJP government, we lost two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the current term, another more than two years have been lost due to the ethnic conflict.' The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which, after the promulgation of President's Rule on February 13, has been put under suspended animation, has a tenure till 2027. Biren Singh met the Governor on Tuesday and discussed the restoration of peace and normalcy and other vital issues of the state. A senior official had said that Biren Singh, who resigned from the Chief Minister's post on February 9, four days before the promulgation of the President's Rule in the trouble-torn state, requested Bhalla to take immediate steps to resolve the vital issues, including that of illegal immigrants. BJP's Rajya Sabha member from Manipur, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, earlier this month expressed hope that a popular government would be formed in the state within the next two months. He urged all political leaders to unite in dealing with the challenges the state has been facing. 'The President's rule alone cannot resolve the prevailing issues. A popular government can function closely in tandem with the people and find a solution to the present ethnic crisis,' he had told the media. BJP's North East In-charge Sambit Patra also earlier this month visited the state's Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts and met Kuki BJP MLAs Vungzagin Valte and Nemcha Kipgen and several Kuki-Zo and civil society organisations, including the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU). Kipgen was the lone woman Minister in the Biren Singh-led government in Manipur. Patra also held closed-door meetings with Biren Singh, Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh and various other leaders and MLAs in Imphal. However, neither Patra nor the BJP disclosed the matter of discussions of the series of meetings during his three-day stay in Manipur. His visit came nearly a week after 21 MLAs wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, urging them to reinstate a 'popular government' in the state.
