Committed to BJP-led coalition: NPP dismisses reports of withdrawal from Manipur govt

All four MLAs of the NPP were given cabinet rank in the state’s first BJP-led coalition government headed by N. Biren Singh, which took oath of office on Wednesday.

Updated on: Mar 16, 2017, 09:10:36 IST

Hindustan Times, Imphal | By Utpal Parashar

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The National People’s Party (NPP) has dismissed reports about the party threatening to pull out of the BJP-led coalition in Manipur unless its ministers got desired portfolios.

Supporters of the National People’s Party (NPP) celebrate after their candidate won in Imphal, Manipur on Saturday. (PTI)

All four MLAs of the party were given cabinet rank in the state’s first BJP-led coalition government headed by N. Biren Singh, which took oath of office on Wednesday.

“There is no question of going back. We are committed to staying in the coalition and work for development of Manipur for the next 5 years,” NPP’s national president and Lok Sabha MP Conrad Sangma told Hindustan Times.

He, however, admitted that some leaders of the party’s state unit had indeed written to the BJP leadership in New Delhi as well as Biren Singh expressing their desire for certain ministries.

“They had only expressed their desire if the MLAs could be accommodated in particular ministries. There is no harm in that. But there was no threat of pull out,” Sangma said.

With 21 seats, the BJP finished second to the Congress (28) in the 60-member assembly but quickly cobble together a coalition to get past the majority mark. The alliance government has the support of 33 MLAs.

On Wednesday, soon after the BJP-led coalition took oath, reports started appearing that the party has threatened to quit the government.

The reports stated that the party has demanded the home, health and family welfare, Public Works Department (PWD) and rural development and ‘panchayat’ ministries in order to stay with the coalition.

“There is no threat to the new government from our party. I can assure that,” Sangma stressed.

Besides NPP, the coalition has support of Naga People’s Front, Lok Janashakti Party, All India Trinamool Congress and a Congress MLA Th Shyamkumar.

A total of eight cabinet ministers were sworn in with the chief minister. Portfolios haven’t been allotted yet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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