There is speculation that the party might use the Assam template where the party refrained from naming the chief ministerial candidate while Sarbananda Sonowal was still in office and after elections Himanta Biswa Sarma was made the chief minister of the second BJP government in the state last year.
Talking to ET in an interview, Biren said, “You see, BJP is a very disciplined and well organized party. The leadership decision is taken by the central leaders through democratic process. I cannot say that individually I will be there but as far masses are concerned they love me”.
A section of MLAs in 2019 BJP in Manipur moved party leadership seeking leadership change following this there was a reshuffle in the council of ministers.
Again in 2020 Singh dropped as many as six cabinet ministers which include three from the BJP, two from ally National People’s Party (NPP) and one from Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).
In June 2020 nine MLAs supporting the party deserted the coalition. Three Manipur BJP MLAs joined Congress and four NPP MLAs, an independent MLA and Trinamool Congress MLA had withdrawn support to the BJP led government and expressed desire to support congress. Later NPP leaders met Union Home minister Amit Shah and both BJP and NPP resolved to work for development of Manipur and NPP was back in the government.
After that the BJP led coalition had won the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Manipur and a controversial trust vote.
A senior BJP leader who does not want to be named told ET, “There are aspirants for the chief ministerial post however this is something which will be dealt with post polls. There is resentment against Biren and his style of functioning.”
He added that however the chief ministerial candidate will be based on several factors as to how many seats BJP will get in the 60-member assembly, the party is targeting to win 40 seats. “While deciding the party will also take into account Biren ran several party-led coalitions for five years.”
Biren added, “ We got 21 seats and we ran a coalition government. During that coalition I faced a lot of problems many times instability and push and pulls, lucky I managed to run five years. This time we are expecting 40 seats, BJP alone. As of now we are not going for a pre poll alliance but as per high authorities’ advice we will follow the coalition Dharma however in post poll”.
BJP is fighting the polls on its own. The assembly elections would be held in Manipur in two phases on February 27 and March 3.
In 2017 Congress went out of power in Manipur after 15 years of rule. In 2017 assembly polls Congress emerged as the single largest party with 28 MLAs, Manipur assembly is 60-member assembly. Later around eight Congress MLAs left the party. BJP won 21 seats and it contested all the 60 seats.
BJP got support from NPP and Naga People’s Front NPF which won four seats each. One MLA each from Trinamool congress, Lok Jan Shakti party and lone independent member supported the government.
For all the latest world News Click Here
