If the BJP fails to form a government before November, the party’s position will not be in good shape, said Keirao Assembly Constituency MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei while talking to reporters during the inauguration of a new home appliance showroom at Thoubal.
Rameshwor said a group of BJP legislators is ready to stake claim to form a new government with a twin objective of saving the party and serving people, especially IDPs, who have continued to suffer due to the prolonged crisis.
He hinted that Manipur may soon see the emergence of a new popular government within November, cautioning that further delay may increase the instability in the state. The MLA said that some legislators have projected Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Th. Satyabrata as the leader of the legislature party to head the proposed new government. He added that a formal proposal will soon be submitted to the Governor.
Rameshwor was speaking at the inauguration of “The Solution,” a new warehouse and home appliance showroom, at Tangjeng, Thoubal District. Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Th. Satyabrata and MLA K. Robindro, among others, also attended the inaugural function. The showroom deals in luxury tiles and sanitary items and will sell products at reasonable prices and provide good quality service to the people and employ local youths, it added.
Speaking further, Rameshwor said that the state is passing through an unprecedented crisis and it is the responsibility of elected representatives to act decisively. “If a new government is not formed within this month, Manipur could plunge into deeper chaos,” he warned and maintained that both the people and their representatives are under immense strain.
He further remarked that if the situation deteriorates, the Assembly should be dissolved and a fresh mandate sought from the people.
On the other hand, when asked about it, Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Th. Satyabrata said that it is up to the MLAs whether or not to stake a claim for government formation.
While this is so, sources close to the party confirm that BJP legislators are busy consulting central leaders who are expected to visit the state later this month to discuss the political situation in the state. However, how the schedule unfolds before the end of this month depends on the final call by the BJP’s central leadership.
Observers point out that the state’s citizens are watching the developments closely, with the lingering political uncertainty in Manipur continuing to impact governance and the ongoing humanitarian crisis.