BJP keeps NPP out; CM, brother rush to Manipur

Shillong, March 11: The BJP, which won a simple majority with 32 seats in the Manipur Assembly polls, is not keen on retaining its National Democratic Alliance and Northeast Democratic Alliance partner — NPP — in the new dispensation that will take oath on March 19.
Outgoing BJP Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the NPP, which won seven seats in the just concluded state polls, will not be a part of the new arrangement.
Amidst hectic parleys ahead of government formation, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his brother, James PK Sangma skipped the Assembly session on Friday and rushed to Manipur to negotiate with the BJP.
A NPP leader confirmed that the party president (Conrad) and national spokesperson (James) were camping in Imphal.
BJP leaders have indicated that they were in favour of taking support from the Naga People’s Front which has won five seats.
The BJP’s strength was bolstered after Nishikant Singh Sapam, an Independent candidate who won the election from Keishamthong constituency, extended his support to the saffron party on Friday.
Commenting on the BJP’s action of keeping the NPP out of the equation during the formation of the new government in Manipur, political analysts say that in 2017, the NPP which had won four seats had bargained heavily to bag the deputy chief minister’s chair and three cabinet berths.
However, in the five years that followed, the chasm between the NPP and the BJP grew wider leading to the saffron party’s decision not to rekindle ties with the former.
In all likelihood, the NPP will be reduced to the position of principal opposition in Manipur, its birthplace. (With agency inputs)