BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh and the party’s Northeast coordinator, Sambit Patra, arrived in Imphal Wednesday, triggering speculation that the central leadership is laying the ground for the restoration of a popular government in the state.
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The BJP leaders who are on a three-day visit to Manipur were received by state party president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi and several workers at Imphal airport.
According to sources within the party, Santhosh has been asked to monitor the mood within the state BJP unit, holding one-on-one interactions with MLAs, and submit a report on the ground situation to the party’s national leadership. Santhosh and Patra are also expected to meet BJP allies during their visit.
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While the leaders declined to comment on the purpose of their visit, they held a closed-door meeting with BJP legislators at the party head office in Imphal, which went on till late in the evening and was attended, among others, by former chief minister N Biren Singh.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BJP MLA Kh Robindro said that one of the main demands of party legislators was to form a government “that reflects the aspirations of the people”. The MLA said that they also discussed strategies to bring back a BJP government in the state and the measures to be taken by the legislators.
Refusing to divulge more, Robindro said: “We said that when choosing a leader, the central leaders should hear the opinions of MLAs to gauge the sentiments of the people. We are united in this demand, and the leadership has assured us that they are considering it.”
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13 this year, when Biren Singh, who was blamed by many quarters for the ethnic unrest that began in May 2023, resigned. While President’s Rule has been extended till February 2026, BJP MLAs have been demanding that a “popular government” be reinstated in the state.
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