In a bid to end the administrative limbo in Manipur, the BJP has set in motion the election of a new Chief Minister starting Monday. This follows the year-long President’s Rule enacted on February 13 post the resignation of N. Biren Singh, overshadowed by persistent ethnic conflicts.
Tarun Chugh, the party’s National General Secretary, stands appointed by the Parliamentary Board as the central observer for the legislature party leader’s poll in the state, as per a headquarters communique.
The date for the MLAs’ gathering is yet to be announced, yet buzz suggests imminent consultations in New Delhi involving senior leaders and Manipur’s BJP-NDA lawmakers. Many have already assembled there, prominently featuring ex-CM Biren Singh and state unit chief Adhkari Mayum Sharda Devi.
Sharda Devi informed journalists before leaving Imphal that central BJP has convened all NDA MLAs for state issues, anticipating government-formation deliberations. Biren Singh reinforced this, citing the all-inclusive invite and optimism for positivity, with no explicit agenda outlined.
President’s Rule kicked in swiftly, four days after Singh’s departure, keeping the 60-member assembly—valid till 2027—in abeyance. Expiration on February 12 necessitates prompt action.
With Manipur grappling with deep-seated tensions, this political maneuver could herald stability. The BJP must deftly manage alliances and ethnic sensitivities to forge a viable administration, marking a crucial chapter in the state’s turbulent narrative.