SHILLONG/New Delhi, March 13: The National People’s Party (NPP) is keen on continuing with its alliance with the BJP in Manipur despite the latter virtually shutting the door on it.
NPP national vice president, Prestone Tynsong on Sunday told journalists that party’s national president and Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma will take up the issue of the party’s inclusion in Manipur’s ruling coalition with the BJP’s central leadership.
Two other parties – Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Janata Dal (United) – have already committed their support to the BJP, expressing willingness to be a part of the government.
After the BJP had secured the majority by winning 32 of the 60 seats, Manipur CM, N Biren Singh had told journalists: “I don’t think the NPP will be with us.”
The NPP’s relationship with the BJP in Manipur has been on the rocks for the past two years or so. In fact, at one point of time, all four NPP legislators had walked out of the government until making a return a few days later following the intervention of BJP stalwart and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The NPP is a partner of the BJP in the North East Democratic Alliance as well as the NDA. In Meghalaya, the BJP is a constituent of the NPP-led ruling coalition.
Tynsong said he cannot divulge anything on the NPP’s future course of action as regards Manipur.
He expressed happiness that it bettered its 2017 performance by winning seven of the 38 seats it contested. He said in several seats, the party candidates lost by small margins of votes.
In the last election, it had contested in nine seats and won four.
“It is a positive sign that our vote share has also gone up. We hoped to win from 22 seats,” he added.
In 2017, the BJP had won 21 seats as against the Congress’ 28, yet it managed to form a coalition government with support from NPP, NPF and some other parties.