SHILLONG, Nov 18: In a significant political shift, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who is also the president of the National People’s Party (NPP), announced the withdrawal of support from the BJP-led Manipur government, driven by a declared “loss of confidence” in Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s leadership. This decision was made following extensive consultations with NPP legislators in Manipur, party leaders, and state committees.
Speaking at the sidelines of the fourth edition of the Shillong Literary Festival today, Sangma specified that the withdrawal of support was “very specific to him, Chief Minister Biren Singh,” explaining, “If we see a change in leadership, along with a positive step forward and a concrete plan to resolve the crisis, we are open to constructive cooperation. We want to contribute to restoring peace and normalcy. However, it’s difficult to say anything definitive at this point,” he remarked in a statement to a national newswire.
Reflecting on the current situation, Sangma expressed deep concern over the escalating law and order crisis in Manipur, stating, “The Manipur government under the leadership of N Biren Singh has completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy.” He reiterated that while the NPP has withdrawn support, it remains committed to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and is prepared to assist in restoring peace in the region.
Following the NPP’s decision on Sunday to inform BJP president JP Nadda about their withdrawal, Sangma highlighted the lack of effective trust-building measures by the Manipur government, which he believes has contributed to the ongoing turmoil. “We were hopeful that the situation would improve in Manipur, and we supported the government with the expectation of normalcy. However, in the last week, the situation has worsened significantly,” he stated.
The Meghalaya Chief Minister emphasized that his party feels there is a significant lack of confidence in Singh’s leadership, with public sentiments running high against the backdrop of increasing violence. He urged the central government to recognize the severity of the situation and to take decisive action to stabilize Manipur.
In light of the deteriorating law and order situation, Chief Minister Biren Singh convened a meeting today with ministers and MLAs of the ruling National Democratic Alliance to address the crisis.
