The National People’s Party (NPP), the second largest ally in the BJP-led Manipur government, withdrew its support to the N Biren Singh administration on Sunday. The party cited the government’s failure to restore normalcy in the state as the main reason behind its decision.
NPP leader and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma discussed the issue, emphasizing the complexities of the situation in Manipur, which has been plagued by violence and lawlessness for over a year and a half. He noted that historical factors have exacerbated the current crisis, making it difficult to find a straightforward solution. Despite some efforts to address the issue, the situation continued to deteriorate, leading to widespread unrest and loss of lives.
Sangma explained that, while it is easy to critique past actions, the real problem lies in the government’s inability to implement timely solutions. He suggested that a change in leadership or the introduction of a system that inspires public confidence could have potentially mitigated the situation. However, the failure to take decisive action at the right time allowed matters to worsen.
The NPP leader emphasized that the primary issue is the erosion of people’s trust in the government. Despite efforts by both the state and central governments, the public has not felt any real change, and the situation has remained volatile. Sangma suggested that a leadership change and a renewed public relations strategy were essential to rebuilding trust in the system.
Internally, the NPP has advocated for the central government to intervene and ensure a leadership change, though it chose to avoid publicly airing its concerns to prevent further complications. Ultimately, Sangma concluded that the party could no longer continue its support for the state government given the failure to restore order and provide the necessary leadership.
