Shillong, Jun 18 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party
(NPP) national president Conrad Sangma on Thursday ruled out that the political
development in Manipur will not have any impact in Meghalaya.
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 reporters in Shillong.
"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.
Asked what triggered his four NPP legislators to withdraw support to 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
continued. 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,” the NPP president said.
Stating there are always concerns in coalition and it is never simple and easy,
the Meghalaya Chief Minister however stressed as he said, "It is important there
should be continuous dialogue, discussion and continuous process through which
we will resolve small issues before it becomes big."
Whether the NPP would send party leaders to visit Manipur, the NPP president
said that two general secretaries at the national level, one from Mizoram and
another from Nagaland have been requested to visit Manipur and submit a report
on the political situation there.
UNI RRK BM