BJP Legislative Party leader likely to be elected soon Tarun Chugh named observer for electing BJLP leader

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 2: Setting the process of reinstalling a popular Government into motion, the BJP Parliamentary Board has appointed Tarun Chugh as Central Observer for the election of  BJP Legislative Party leader in Manipur. This is also seen as the precursor of who the next Chief Minister of Manipur would be.      
As such, a new leader of BJP Legislative Party is likely to be elected very soon even though the much anticipated meeting scheduled today (February 2) between BJP Central leaders and ruling MLAs of Manipur at Delhi did not materialise.
The meeting was convened hurriedly and BJP North East in-charge Dr Sambit Patra contacted all the ruling MLAs of Manipur on January 31 and asked them to come to Delhi on February 2 for a crucial meeting.
The meeting notice also came through BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sharda and it asked the ruling MLAs to  reach Delhi by 2 pm of February 2.
Responding to the meeting notice, almost all the ruling MLAs, with the exception of a few, reached Delhi yesterday.
With many of the ruling MLAs exuding confidence that the main agenda of the meeting scheduled today would be formation of a new popular Government in the State, the scheduled meeting was seen as very crucial and highly anticipated by all political observers.
Even as the MLAs from Manipur eagerly waited for a call from the Central leaders for the scheduled meeting, no such call came till afternoon, much to the chagrin of the legislators.    
The MLAs were informed in the late afternoon that the meeting scheduled today has been aborted and two separate meetings will be held tomorrow (February 3) instead.
BJP Central leaders will hold a meeting with BJP MLAs of Manipur at the BJP National office at 3 pm. This will be followed by another meeting at 4 pm with MLAs of NDA partners namely; NPP, NPF and Independents.
Meanwhile, MLA L Susindro reached Delhi today with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa  Sarma in a chartered flight from Guwahati.
However, it is not known whether Himanta Biswa Sarma’s visit to Delhi has anything to do with the meetings scheduled tomorrow between ruling MLAs from Manipur and BJP Central leaders.  
Notably, Himanta Biswa Sarma is also the convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) headed by BJP.
Speaking to the media at Imphal Airport yesterday, several ruling MLAs suggested that the meeting could be related to the formation of a popular Government, as the current PR term is set to expire on February 13.
They said that failure to form a Government before February 13 could lead to a Constitutional crisis.
On the other hand, Naga People’s Front (NPF) has announced that it would stake claim to the Governor to form a popular Government in Manipur in case the current visit of ruling MLAs to Delhi does not result in the formation of a popular Government.
If no popular Government can be formed this time too, NPF MLAs will come back very soon and stake claim to the Government to form a Government, according to information received from the NPF Legislative Party.
It is said that NPF president and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio will land at Delhi tomorrow and he will hold a meeting with the NPF MLAs from Manipur.
Sources in the NPF Legislative Party said that many MLAs from BJP and other parties have pledged support to NPF in staking claim to form a popular Government.  
The BJP MLAs who have reached Delhi include Speaker Th Satyabrata (Yai- skul), ex-Chief Minister N Biren (Heingang),  Th Biswajit (Thongju), Govin-das Konthoujam (Bish- nupur), Y Khemchand (Singjamei), L Rameshwor (Keirao), Th Shyamkumar (Andro), Kh Ibomcha (Lam-lai), Kh Joykisan (Thang- meiband), RK Imo (Sagol-band), H Dingo (Sekmai), S Rajen (Lamsang), Th Basantakumar (Nambol), Dr S Ranjan (Konthoujam), S Kunjakeswar (Patsoi), Karam Shyam (Langthabal), S Kebi (Naoriya Pakhang-lakpa), K Robindro (Ma- yang Imphal), T Robindro (Thanga), S Premchandra (Kumbi), Th Radheshyam (Heirok), P Brojen (Wangjing Tentha), Dr U Deben (Wabagai), Dr Y Radheshyam (Hiyanglam), SS Olish (Chandel) and Dinganglung Gangmei (Nungba).
NPP MLAs namely; I Nalini (Oinam), Kh Loken (Wangoi), Sheikh Noorul Hassan (Kshetrigao), Th Shanti (Moirang), M Ra-meshwar (Kakching), and Janghemlung Panmei (Ta-menglong) have also reached Delhi.
NPF MLAs including Awangbow Newmai (Tamei), Khasim Vashum (Chingai) and Leishiyo Keishing (Phungyar) and independent MLAs S Nishikanta (Keishamthong) and J Kumo Sha (Karong) have also reached Delhi.
It was reported that most of the Kuki MLAs have landed in Delhi but Haokholet Kipgen is said to be in Manipur.