Imphal. Caretaker Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and another top contender Thongam Biswajit Singh arrived in Delhi on Saturday after BJP central leaders were called to discuss the name of Manipur’s next chief minister and government formation. Biren Singh, Biswajit Singh along with BJP state president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi went to Delhi on a chartered flight on Tuesday to discuss the leadership issue with BJP central leaders and returned to Imphal on Thursday.
Party sources said in Imphal that two top BJP leaders (Biren Singh and Viswajit Singh) had gone to Delhi on separate flights on Saturday.
Sharda Devi said in Imphal that the name of the BJP Legislature Party leader would be finalized after the Holi festival.
“During our stay in Delhi, we discussed the results of the recent assembly elections with central leaders. I have no idea about the next leader of the legislature party,” he told the media here.
Both Biren Singh and Viswajit Singh had also expressed their displeasure over speculations about the new chief minister in different media saying that the issue of leadership was not discussed in Delhi.
Biswajit Singh had said, “The important budget session of Parliament is going on and people are in a mood to celebrate Holi. So after that the central leaders and observers will take a decision on the leadership at an appropriate time.”
State BJP leaders on Saturday said, “Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju, (who was earlier appointed as Central Observers) are likely to visit Imphal early next week to see if May discuss with other BJP MLAs and leaders to finalize the name of the Legislature Party leader.”
While Biren Singh, a former Congress leader, joined the BJP in October 2016, Biswajit Singh was the second chief minister in the outgoing BJP government and was in the party longer than Biren Singh.
Biswajit Singh was the lone BJP MLA in Manipur in 2015, two years before the saffron party first swept the northeastern state, ruling the state for several years, including three consecutive terms (15 years) from 2002 to 2017. Congress was defeated.
In the recent assembly elections, the BJP has secured a modest majority of 32 MLAs in the 60-member assembly.
BJP’s erstwhile ally National People’s Party won seven seats, while Janata Dal (United) won six seats and Congress and Naga People’s Front got five seats each.
The Kuki People’s Alliance, a newly formed tribal-based party, managed to win two seats, while three independent candidates were also elected to the assembly.
NPF, JD(U) and an independent member have declared their support to the BJP government.
Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP supremo Conrad K. Sangma had also said that his party was ready to join the BJP-led government in Manipur if the dominant party in the coalition invited him.
In Manipur, BJP’s separate ally NPP had fielded 38 candidates and recently contested the assembly elections separately and won seven seats.
—AnyTV News
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