Manipur Political Uncertainty: Sambit Patra’s Meeting with Governor Raises Questions

IMPHAL: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday for the second time in 24 hours. The meeting came against the backdrop of the state's political crisis after former Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on Sunday.

Patra's consecutive meetings with the governor have generated eyebrows over the leadership crisis in Manipur. On Tuesday, he met Bhalla and BJP state president A Sharda Devi. They were accompanied by state education minister Th Basanta Kumar Singh, Naga People's Front (NPF) Manipur unit president Awangbou Newmai, and Janata Dal (United) MLA Md Nasir.

On Wednesday, Patra also met party MLAs, including state consumer affairs minister L Susindro and MLA Karam Shyam. Despite the ongoing crisis, Shyam ruled out any speculation over a constitutional crisis in the state, saying that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre would address the issues with the help of legislators.

"I don't know about the President's Rule. I think the problem (ongoing leadership crisis) will be solved by the Centre with the help of the legislators. I think there is no constitutional crisis in Manipur," Shyam said while attending Patra's meeting. However, when questioned about the next chief minister, he refused to comment, saying only, "Let's see what happens."

The opposition Congress party raised questions about Patra's visit, questioning whether the BJP is capable of appointing a new chief minister and summoning the assembly session. Congress MLA Thokchom Lokeshwar criticized the BJP for their uncertainty, saying the visit by Patra could be to delay a solution rather than solving the leadership crisis.

"It is really unfortunate that BJP leaders cannot decide on their own CM and summon the assembly session. What is the purpose of Patra's visit? Has he come to break the state into pieces?" Lokeshwar questioned. He also accused the visit by Patra of being aimed at preventing the assembly from functioning, so that important issues in the state would continue to be ignored.

Lokeshwar also pointed out that the announcement of the coming assembly session as 'null and void' was a new trend in Manipur's political history. "If the President's Rule is imposed, the political scenario will change completely, and the internal conflict within the BJP-led government will be under the scanner," he added.

The crisis deepened after the Manipur Governor announced the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, which was earlier scheduled for February 10, as null and void. The last assembly session in the state took place on August 12, 2024, and according to the provisions of the constitution, there cannot be a gap of more than six months between the two sessions.

Senior Supreme Court attorney Arunabh Chowdhury warned that if the BJP fails to induct a new chief minister, the state will be at risk of President's Rule. He asserted that as per Article 174 of the Constitution, there is a requirement to hold an assembly session within six months. Otherwise, it would be a constitutional crisis.

"In Manipur, the assembly is a live one. It is not in suspended animation or under the President's Rule. It is obligatory to have assembly sessions under the Supreme Court directive. Of course, it will result in a huge constitutional crisis," Chowdhury added.

As per Article 356 of the Constitution, the President can extend direct rule in a state on the recommendation of the Union Council of Ministers. If there is no consensus in the BJP regarding Manipur's next chief minister, President's Rule would be the probable option.

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