Manipur BJP Delegation Meets Central Leadership to Discuss New Government Formation Amid Extended President's Rule

N Biren Singh announced that a delegation is traveling to Delhi to meet with central leaders. (File)

BJP MLAs and officials from Manipur, including former chief minister N Biren Singh, are set to meet with the party's central leadership to discuss the formation of a new government in the state.

Before departing for Delhi, N Biren Singh informed reporters at Imphal International Airport about the delegation's intentions to meet with central leaders.

"We plan to urge the central leadership to facilitate the establishment of a new popular government, address the crisis affecting internally displaced persons, and ensure the reopening of key highways as soon as possible," he stated.

Former ministers Sapam Ranjan Singh and Heikham Dingo Singh, along with BJP MLA Tongbram Robindro Singh, accompanied the former chief minister to Delhi on Saturday.

On the same day, another group of MLAs including former minister Leishangthem Susindro Meitei, Thangjam Arunkumar, and Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei, all BJP representatives, separately left Imphal for Delhi.

Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, former minister Govindas Konthoujam, and MLAs Kongkham Robindro, Sapam Kunjakeshwor, Thounaojam Shyamkumar, and Karam Shyam are also expected to travel to Delhi on Sunday.

Prior to the implementation of President's rule on February 13 this year, Manipur had a BJP-led coalition government headed by Biren Singh.

Singh resigned from his position as chief minister on February 9, just four days before President's rule was imposed due to prolonged ethnic violence, which erupted on May 3, 2023.

The 60-member Manipur assembly is currently under suspended animation with a tenure lasting until 2027.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla is already in Delhi. Bhalla, who previously served as Home Secretary, met with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday and had an audience with Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Friday.

Senior Manipur government officials, including Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel and Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home) N Ashok Kumar, have also departed for Delhi. The purpose of their visit has not been disclosed.

Parliament has extended the President's rule for an additional six months, effective from August 13.