N Biren Singh to Continue as Chief Minister Despite Rifts in Manipur BJP

Imphal, October 3, 2019:

According to latest reports, N Biren Singh is likely to stay on as the Chief Minister of Manipur. This latest report comes amid much speculation that Biren Singh could be replaced by Th Bishwajit due to swindling support from the party.

A source told Inside Northeast that Biren Singh was allowed to stay on as the ruling BJP party fear that ousting him from the CM's post could end the ruling coalition, as Biren's followers would likely withdraw support.

The Inside Northeast source said, "Biren is firmly entrenched as the Chief Minister. Although the party leadership, as well as the RSS, is displeased with him due to fund allocation, as well as portfolio distribution and many MLAs want Bishwajit as CM, the BJP fear that he would leave once removed from the post. This, in turn, would reduce them to a minority. Furthermore, Biren's loyalists number over a hundred."

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"Biren Singh will most likely be retained as the Chief Minister and will complete the term, but the political scenario could change in the next Assembly polls in the State, as Bishwajit is likely to emerge as a strong contender to challenge for the top political post in the State", the source added.

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It may be mentioned here that senior leaders from Manipur Biren Singh, Biswajit, and BJP President Bhabananda Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Delhi yesterday. As per sources, two meetings were held between the contingent from Manipur and the BJP top brass. The first meeting was held in the evening, and the second meeting began late at night at around 11 pm, and went on till after midnight.

It may be mentioned here that on September 29, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and some other leaders of the state BJP, including Rajya Sabha MP K.Bhabananda, and Th Bishwajit met top profile Central BJP leaders at the Head Office of BJP at New Delhi. It is pertinent to mention here that BJP leaderc N Biren Singh was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur on March 15, 2017.

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