Manipur crisis: 4 NPP ministers taken to Delhi for meeting Central leaders

BJP on Tuesday took four National People's Party (NPP) ministers who resigned from N Biren Singh-led Manipur government to Delhi for a meeting with central leers to salv situation in rastern state, BJP sources said. During a fresh round of talks with rth-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) conver Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier in day, NPP leers stuck to ir demand for change in leership of BJP-led coalition government, y said. Sarma, saffron party's key troubleshooter in rast, accompanied four to Delhi in a special aircraft.

talks were inconclusive in Imphal and that is why y need to go to Delhi, a BJP leer said. " crisis will be resolved very soon," Sarma said before leaving Manipur. Biren Singh ministry was on a sticky wicket following resignation of four NPP ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Y Joy Kumar Singh, three rebel BJP MLAs, lone All India Trinamool Congress legislator and an Independent. As NPP has only four MLAs in House, party effectively withdrew support from government.

Congress roped in se nine rebels and formed a coalition called Secular Progressive Front (SPF). State Congress president Moirangm Okendra said party is hopeful that four NPP leers will t succumb to pressure of BJP and an SPF government will come to power dislodging N Biren Singh dispensation. Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP president Conr Sangma reached Imphal in a special aircraft and met four leers at farm house of L Jayantakumar, one of ministers who resigned, at Ghari in Manipur's Imphal West district.

Sources said BJP leer pleed with m to change ir decision but y said leership of state government has to be changed. This is second round meeting of Sarma and Sangma with four leers after one held on Sunday. From Jayantakumar's farm house, Sarma went to meet chief minister at his residence, but what transpired at that meeting is t kwn. Sarma also met several BJP legislators.

Later, he left for Delhi, taking along four NPP leers, in same aircraft that brought him to Manipur. NPP's Manipur unit president Thangminlien Kipgen h on Monday said re could be a solution to crisis if attitude of leership of ruling BJP-led coalition changes towards its alliance partners. " leership must ensure that opinions of members of coalition partners are invited before taking major decisions," he said. Kipgen was one of leers who was part of an SPF delegation that called on Goverr Najma Heptulla on June 18 and urged her to call a special assembly session soon to take up a -confidence motion against BJP-led government.

Congress has claimed that four rebel BJP MLAs have joined party. State BJP president S Tikendra Singh exuded confidence that party will win if a floor test is conducted in Assembly. After victory of BJP candidate Leishemba Sanajaoba in Rajya Sabha election, party claimed that it is in command in Manipur. figure in support of Chief Minister Biren Singh stood at 23 -- 18 MLAs of BJP, four of Naga People's Front (NPF) and one MLA from LJP. Congress asserted that SPF has backing of 29 lawmakers -- 20 of its own, four of NPP, three of BJP who h quit, one from TMC and an Independent. One Congress MLA who joined BJP-led government was disqualified from membership of Manipur Legislative Assembly recently, reducing strength of house to 59. Assembly election in Manipur was held in 2017.

(Im credits: PTI)