New Delhi: Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party, which withdrew its support from the N. Biren Singh-led government in Manipur in November 2024, has now rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in Manipur.
NPP MLA and party head Sheikh Noorul Hassan told The Wire that the party has decided to back the BJP government in Manipur, emphasising that their opposition was solely to former chief minister Biren Singh. Biren resigned on February 9. On the night of February 11, BJP MP and its Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra met Hassan.
BJP is, however, yet to consolidate its own house. Out of seven Kuki BJP MLAs, two have confirmed to The Wire that no one from central leadership has contacted them.
With seven MLAs in the 60-member Manipur assembly, the NPP is a crucial player in the state’s political equation.
Meanwhile, Patra is currently in Manipur, working to resolve the ongoing political crisis and restructure the state government by selecting a new chief minister. Sources told The Wire that Patra is actively engaging with local leadership to restore confidence in the BJP-led government – as part of which he met Hassan.
“It was Biren Singh we were not supporting. Now that the party has removed him, the BJP has regained NPP’s support,” Hassan told The Wire after the meeting.
Hassan also held a separate discussion with Patra on the state’s political situation but refused to share details on this. When asked whether the NPP would support the new chief minister appointed by BJP, he stated, “As you know, the NPP is part of the NDA at the Centre, and our priority is the peace and stability of Manipur. Our focus will be on working towards that goal.”
Hassan’s meeting with Patra also indicates that the BJP is consulting its allies within the NDA on the selection of a new chief minister. However, when questioned about this, Hassan responded, “Our national president is the right person to answer that question.”
Since the NPP had withdrawn support from the Biren government, The Wire asked Hassan whether he held Biren responsible for Manipur’s current situation. His reply was not direct. “He was a failed chief minister,” he said.
Under the Biren government, the state has seen unperturbed violence for almost 21 months, leading to over 250 deaths and tens of thousands displaced.
