Shillong, June 18 – Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) national president, Conrad Sangma on Thursday said that the political development in Manipur will not have any impact as far as the coalition govenrment in Meghalaya is concerned.
Four NPP cabinet ministers — Y Joykumar, L Jayantakumar, Letpao Haokip and N Kayisii — submitted their resignation letters to the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Wednesday and extended support to the opposition Congress to form the Secular Progressive Front government.
While the NPP with four MLAs is part of the BJP-led government in Manipur, the BJP with only two legislators is part of the NPP-led government in Meghalaya.
“The situation which is unfolding in Manipur has to do with the leadership and triggered by the resignation of three BJP legislators from the primary membership of the BJP,†Sangma told journalists.
“It is more of an individual-based centric issue which will not have any impact in the state of Meghalaya. We have already discussed with all our partners here (Meghalaya) on Wednesday night. During the discussion, I apprised them about the situation and assured everybody that the Manipur situation will not have any impact,” he asserted.
The NPP leader informed that two general secretaries of the party at the national level have been requested to visit Manipur and submit a report on the political situation.
Asked what triggered his four NPP legislators to withdraw support from the BJP-led government, Sangma said, “There had been concerns regarding the leadership of the Chief Minister in Manipur such as taking away portfolios from some of the NPP ministers besides some interference was also there.”
“.. We have taken up this issue at the Central leadership of the BJP earlier but whatever the case may be, since we have decided to work together, we continue, but I am not here to blame anybody. Maybe we were not able to resolve those issues that led to its building up. Let’s see as we are discussing and trying to resolve,†he said.
Stating that there are always concerns in coalition and it is never simple and easy, Sangma stressed that it is important that there should be continuous dialogue, and continuous process to resolve small issue before it becomes big.
