IMPHAL, May 5: BJP Northeast in-charge and Member of Parliament Sambit Patra visited Churachandpur on Monday and met key political and community leaders, in a significant outreach amid ongoing calls for the restoration of a popular government in Manipur.

During his visit, Patra met Thanlon MLA Vungzagin Valte, who had survived a mob attack in Imphal on May 4, 2023. He also held meetings with Churachandpur legislator L M Khaute and leaders of the Zomi Students’ Federation (ZSF), who submitted a memorandum outlining their concerns regarding the prevailing situation in the state.

In addition to these engagements, Patra held closed-door discussions with representatives of the Kuki Zo Council (KZC) and Zomi Council (ZC), underlining the BJP’s ongoing efforts to engage with ethnic community leaders during the state’s prolonged period of unrest.

Responding to media queries, Patra clarified that his visit was “unofficial.” His presence in the violence-hit state comes just days after 21 MLAs from Manipur wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the Centre to establish a “popular government” to help restore peace and normalcy in the state, which is currently under President’s Rule.

Earlier in the day, Patra arrived in Imphal and was received at the airport by BJP Manipur general secretary K Sarat Kumar. He then traveled to Churachandpur by helicopter for his meetings.

After returning to Imphal from Churachandpur, the BJP leader called on former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh at his residence in Heingang, located in the Imphal East district.

Following his meeting with the former Chief Minister, Patra proceeded to meet Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh at his residence at Bheigyabati Leikai, in Imphal East,