Latest news with #NPP
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
25 BJP MLAs meet in Imphal to push for popular government
Imphal (Manipur) [India], May 30 (ANI): Nearly 25 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs are meeting at the residence of party MLA Thongam Biswajit Singh in Imphal to push for the formation of a popular government in Manipur. On May 28, nearly 10 MLAs, including eight from the BJP, one from the National People's Party (NPP), and one Independent MLA, met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal to stake a claim to form a government in the state. Ten MLAs, including eight from the BJP, one from the NPP, and one Independent MLA, met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Wednesday, demanding the formation of a 'popular' government in the ethnic violence-hit state. Their meeting with the governor came amid a civil disobedience campaign in the Imphal valley led by a Meitei organisation, which alleged that central armed forces had insulted the state's identity by masking the words 'Manipur State Transport' on a state-run bus on May 20. 'The majority of people want a popular government installed, which is why we came here to meet the Governor,' Independent MLA Sapam Nishikanta Singh told reporters after the meeting. 'We also discussed other things, like the functioning of the President's rule may not be the same after the formation of a popular government. Primarily and basically, the main point was the formation of a popular government. The response of the Governor was also nice,' he added. President's Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, days after BJP leader N. Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister. Ethnic conflict broke out in the State on May 3, 2023, causing the loss of lives of hundreds of people. (ANI)
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ghana opposition boycotts parliament over leader's arrest
ACCRA - Dozens of opposition lawmakers from Ghana's main opposition boycotted parliamentary on Thursday and staged a march in protest at the detention of a senior leader facing financial irregularities investigation. New Patriotic Party (NPP) chairman in the party's political stronghold of Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has been in custody at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra since Tuesday. The attorney general said he is being investigated for fraud, causing financial loss to the state and money laundering. The lawmakers marched from parliament and staged a sit-in outside the heavily-guarded EOCO offices. "Until EOCO does the right thing, we... will protest by absenting ourselves from parliament," leader of the opposition Alexander Afenyo-Markin told local media. He condemned the "Rambo style" arrest of their colleague and labelled the GHS50 million ($4.8 million) bail ordered on him as "outrageous" and "unreasonable". Boasiako was arrested after responding to a police invitation. He was granted bail on Wednesday, but he remains in custody after failing to raise the money. The protest drew scores of mostly youth NPP supporters, who blocked streets near EOCO premises with car tyres, chanting slogans. Police then dispersed the crowds. Boasiako's company, Akonta Mining, has come under scrutiny in recent years for allegedly operating illegally in protected forest reserves. In April, the Lands Ministry revoked its mining licence, citing environmental breaches. The controversy has fuelled political tensions within one of west Africa's stable democracies and raised questions about the impartiality of President John Mahama's anti-corruption drive. Mahama beat the NPP candidate and then vice president Mahamudu Bawumia in last year's presidential elections.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
44 MLAs ready to form new govt in Manipur: Radheshyam
Imphal: Forty-four legislators are ready to form a new govt in the state, BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam told the media after meeting governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla here on Wednesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Manipur is under President's Rule since Feb after N Biren Singh resigned as the chief minister, amid criticism about his govt's handling of the ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zos. These 44 MLAs inlcude 30 of 37 BJP legislators, including Biren Singh, all six NPP legislators, all five NPF members, lone JD(U) member and two of three Independents. The seven BJP legislators belonging to the Kuki-Zo community are not part of this group. The 60-member assembly at present has 59 MLAs, with one seat vacant due to the death of a legislator, N Kayisii, who represented Tadubi constituency. The opposition comprises five Congress members. Besdies, there are two members of Kuki People's Alliance and an Indpendent, all of them belonging to the Kuki-Zo community, in the opposition. "We have conveyed this to the governor that as per the wishes of the people, forty-four MLAs are ready to form a govt. We also discussed what solutions can be there for the issue," he said, adding, the governor expressed hope that he would initiate action in the best interests of the people. Asked if they would stake a claim to form govt, he said, "The central leadership of the BJP will take the decision." He revealed that speaker Th Satyabrata has 'individually' and 'jointly' met the 44 MLAs and that there is no one who opposes the formation of a new govt. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We are ready to stake claim to form govt," Thokchom said. "People had faced so many hardships. In the previous term, two years were lost due to COVID, and in this term, another two years have been lost due to the conflict,' he said. Independent legislator Sapam Nishikanta Singh also told the media that 44 MLAs are ready to form a new govt. Nishikanta also met governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla along with nine other MLAs. The development comes amid intense protests in the Imphal Valley over an order to conceal 'Manipur' written on the windshield of a govt bus by security forces. Meitei groups have demanded an official apology from the governor over the incident that happened in Gwaltabi on May 20. They have also sought the resignation of the chief secretary, DGP, and security advisor. Over 250 people have lost their lives since the ethnic strife broke out in the state in May 3, 2023. Meitei groups maintain that the territorial integrity of the state is non-negotiable in any peace process, while the Kuki-Zo community asserts that the only solution to resolve the crisis is creating a separate administration for the hill districts where they live.
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Power play in Manipur again, 10 NDA MLAs meet governor, staking claim to form govt
The MLAs, who belong to the faction opposed to former chief minister N. Biren Singh, claim to have the support of 44 MLAs, including those known to be in the Biren camp, from among the 60 members in the Manipur assembly. Manipur has been under the President's Rule since 13 February this year. New Delhi: After a brief lull, politicking has started in Manipur again, with 10 National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MLAs meeting Governor Ajay Bhalla Wednesday and staking claim to form the government in the state, ThePrint has learnt. The list of 44 excludes 10 Kuki and five Congress MLAs. The 10 Kuki MLAs include seven MLAs from the BJP. While they have not withdrawn from the BJP, they, post the May 2023 ethnic conflict, have kept themselves aloof from any talks on government formation. BJP MLA Thockchom Radheshyam Singh was among the 10 MLAs who met the Governor. He told ThePrint that 44 MLAs agreed on supporting a popular government. 'We conveyed to the Governor that the MLAs are ready to stake claim. It is the public sentiment also,' Thockchom Radheshyam Singh said. However, an MLA from the Biren camp told ThePrint on condition of anonymity that he was unaware of any move to form the government. 'Nobody has reached out to me asking for my support,' the MLA said. The meeting of the 10 MLAs comes a day after Biren Singh met the Governor to request him to carry forward the steps taken by his government to detect, identify, and deport illegal immigrants. The six-month President's Rule will end 12 August this year. Under the President's Rule, the Manipur assembly was not dissolved but put in suspended animation. Currently, the 60-member assembly has 59 MLAs following the death of National People's Party (NPP) legislator N. Kayisii. The BJP MLAs, including the seven Kuki-Zo MLAs, hold 32 assembly seats. Additionally, five Janata Dal (United) MLAs joined the BJP after the 2022 state polls, taking the party's effective strength to 37. Of the remaining MLAs, five are from the Naga People's Front, a BJP ally. After Kayisii's death, six MLAs remained in the assembly from the Conrad Sangma-led NPP, which earlier supported the Biren Singh government. However, in November 2024, the NPP MLAs withdrew their support. Another former BJP ally, Kuki People's Alliance, has also sent two MLAs to the assembly. Besides, there are three Independent MLAs, five Congress MLAs, and a JD(U) MLA. A second MLA, also present in the morning meeting with Bhalla Wednesday, said, 'The MLAs do not want the assembly to be kept in suspended animation any longer when the BJP continues to have a majority. There is a growing clamour for installing a popular government at the earliest.' According to a senior state BJP leader, the Centre is under pressure from its party MLAs to end the President's Rule in Manipur. Last month, 21 MLAs, including 13 from the BJP, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the formation of the Manipur government. However, the Centre is yet to take a call on revoking the President's Rule before the expiry of six months and forming a government before expected. The senior state BJP leader quoted earlier said the Centre's reluctance could be on account of the continuing factionalism within the Manipur unit of the BJP. Of the two factions in the state, one supports Biren Singh and the other, led by Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, opposes the former chief minister. The latter, anti-Biren faction, is now claiming to have the support of 44 MLAs. Manipur has been in turmoil since the ethnic conflict first rocked the state in May 2023. No large-scale violence has happened since the imposition of the President's Rule. The state, however, is yet to return to normalcy. Manipur has now been divided on ethnic lines, with Kukis forced to leave the Valley and Meiteis gone from the hills. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: 3 months into President's Rule, Governor's airlift to Raj Bhawan shows Manipur is still volatile
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Manipur MLAs urge Governor Ajay Bhalla to form
Imphal (Manipur) [India], May 28 (ANI): Ten MLAs, including eight from the BJP, one from the NPP, and one Independent MLA, met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Wednesday, demanding the formation of a 'popular' government in the ethnic violence-hit state. Their meeting with the governor came amid a civil disobedience campaign in the Imphal valley led by a Meitei organisation, which alleged that central armed forces had insulted the state's identity by masking the words 'Manipur State Transport' on a state-run bus on May 20. 'The majority of people want a popular government installed, and that is the reason we came here to meet the Governor,' Independent MLA Sapam Nishikanta Singh told reporters after the meeting. 'We also discussed other things, like the functioning of the President's rule may not be the same after the formation of a popular government. Primarily and basically, the main point was the formation of a popular government. The response of the Governor was also nice,' he added. President's Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, days after BJP leader N. Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister. Ethnic conflict broke out in the State on May 3, 2023, causing the loss of lives of hundreds of people. Meanwhile in a series of operations, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles launched specific information-based operations in Kangpokpi, Senapati, Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal districts of Manipur between 19 May to 25 May 2025, according to an official statement. On Monday, the operations were launched in coordination with Manipur Police, CRPF, BSF, and ITBP. According to the Ministry of Defence, the week-long operations, based on precise intelligence inputs, led to the apprehension of 13 cadres belonging to various insurgent outfits active in both hill and valley regions. A significant haul of arms and war-like stores was also recovered during these operations. On May 19, a raid in the Phayeng area of Imphal West district recovered one 7.62 mm Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), one .303 rifle, three 9mm pistols, assorted ammunition, and other military-grade equipment. (ANI)
