Hectic Parleys on in Manipur to Choose Leader After CM N. Biren Singh's Exit

Imphal: A day after the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, hectic parleys were going on to choose an alternate leader of the ruling BJP legislature party who would lead the new government. State Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh and Municipal Administrations, Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD) Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh are the frontrunners for the chief minister's post, according to a top BJP leader,.

The BJP's northeast in-charge Sambit Patra held a series of meetings with the Ministers, MLAs and leaders of BJP and other saffron party allies to take their views on Monday, before selection of the new legislature party leader.

 "The party is trying to choose a leader who will be acceptable both among tribals - Kuki-Zo-Hmar and Naga and majority non-tribal Meitei communities," the leader said.

He said that last week, the Central BJP leaders called Chief Minister Biren Singh along with three ministers, a few leaders and MLAs to Delhi and discussed the political and ethnic situation in Manipur.

In the national Capital, Biren Singh held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party President, J.P. Nadda. A top party leader said that following the directions from the central BJP leaders, Biren Singh unwillingly submitted his resignation letter to the Governor.

According to the BJP leader, Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh and Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh are the frontrunners for the chief minister's post. Both Satyabrata Singh and Khemchand Singh belong to the Meitei community in Manipur.

The BJP leader added that the central leaders also separately called Satyabrata Singh and Khemchand Singh and discussed similar political issues.

Y Khemchand Singh on Monday stated that all the members will accept the decision of the party's high command.

Singh stated that the main concern would be to bring back normalcy in the state, primarily between the two communities Kuki and Meitei.

"We accept the decision taken by the high command. The problem is gone. The problem we are facing now is how to bring back normalcy. As per the system of the party, whatever the party's high command decides, we have to accept it. All the members will accept the party's decision," Y Khemchand Singh told ANI when asked about who would now replace Biren Singh.

Meanwhile, the working president of the National Peoples' Party (NPP), Sheikh Noorul Hassan stated that they withdrew support from Biren Singh's government because he failed to restore normalcy and peace in the state while reaffirming support to the NDA alliance.

On Sunday, Manipur CM Singh tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhawan nearly two years after the violence marred the state. He was accompanied by BJP president A Sharda, BJP's North East Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra, along with at least 19 MLAs.

The violence between the Meitei and the Kuki communities in Manipur erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, 2023, following the Manipur High Court order directing the state to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list. (Agencies)

 Also read: Manipur: N. Biren Singh Quits, to Continue as Caretaker Chief Minister

Also Watch: