Sambit Patra holds two-hour closed-door meeting with ex-Manipur CM Biren Singh

BJP North East in-charge Sambit Patra met with former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh for over two hours on Tuesday during a high-stakes visit to the troubled state. The closed-door meeting at Singh's Luwangshangbam residence occurred immediately after Patra returned from Churachandpur district, where ethnic tensions remain high.

 

Sources confirmed several MLAs attended the private discussion with the former chief minister. Following this meeting, Patra visited Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata at his Bhramapur Bheigyabati Leikai residence before engaging with multiple legislators at Hotel Imphal, including Sanasam Premchandra, Karam Shyam, L. Sushindro, Awanboi Newmai, Loshi Dekho, and others.

 

Earlier, Patra travelled by helicopter to Churachandpur where he met with Thanlon BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte, who has been confined to a wheelchair since surviving a mob attack during the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023. The two held a 30-minute private discussion at Valte's residence after Patra inquired about the legislator's health.

 

During his Churachandpur visit, Patra also met with Churachandpur MLA LM Khaute and received a memorandum from leaders of the Zomi Students' Federation. When questioned by reporters about his visit's purpose, Patra described it as "unofficial."

 

The BJP leader's extensive meetings across ethnic lines come amid increasing political pressure to resolve Manipur's crisis. Just days earlier, 21 MLAs, including 13 from BJP, wrote to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah urging them to form a "popular government" to replace President's Rule, which was imposed February 13 after Biren Singh's resignation.

 

Manipur has been suffering from ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023, resulting in over 260 deaths.