The National People's Party (NPP) president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has criticized Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh a day after withdrawing support to the BJP-led government in Manipur. Sangma clarified that the NPP's decision was directed at the Biren Singh government and not the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), signaling potential reconsideration if there is a leadership change.
In the 60-member Manipur Assembly, the BJP holds a comfortable majority with 37 seats, while the NPP, which has seven MLAs, had earlier extended outside support to the BJP-led government as part of the NDA. Although the withdrawal does not jeopardize the government’s stability, it serves as a significant statement against Biren Singh's handling of the state’s affairs amid ongoing violence.
Addressing the media, Sangma expressed disappointment over the deteriorating situation in Manipur, which has seen violent incidents escalate in the past week. He emphasized the need for trust-building measures, criticizing the lack of effective steps to address the crisis.
“We strongly felt that there is no confidence of our party in the current leadership of Biren Singh ji. Violence is not a solution, but sentiments are running high. We urge the Centre to take a serious note of what is happening in Manipur now,” Sangma stated.
Despite withdrawing support, Sangma assured cooperation to restore peace in Manipur, underlining the NPP's commitment as the second-largest party in the state Assembly.
The NPP’s decision follows the recent violence in Jiribam district, where at least 19 people lost their lives this month. Ethnic clashes, which initially erupted last year, have continued to plague the state, leading to curfews in multiple areas.
The NPP's withdrawal letter, addressed to BJP chief JP Nadda, called out the state government's failure to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy.
“Keeping the current situation in mind, the National People's Party has decided to withdraw its support to the Biren Singh government in the state of Manipur, with immediate effect,” the letter read.
Sangma indicated that the NPP might reconsider its decision if there is a change in leadership in Manipur.
“We have withdrawn the support from the Biren Singh-led government, not from the NDA. If there is a leadership change and positive impact of that change, we might think of supporting again,” he said.
The Union Home Ministry has deployed security forces to control the unrest and urged all personnel to take necessary steps to restore peace. However, critics argue that the efforts remain inadequate in addressing the underlying issues, including ethnic tensions and governance concerns.
As violence continues to grip parts of Manipur, the NPP’s move signals a growing demand for accountability and effective leadership to bring lasting peace to the region. Whether the BJP will respond with a leadership change remains uncertain, but the ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for resolution in Manipur.
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