Kuki People’s Alliance withdraws support from N. Biren Singh-led BJP government

 Withdrawal of support will not have any immediate impact on the government as it still has a majority in the 60-member House

N. Biren Singh.: File photo

Umanand Jaiswal, TT, Guwahati, 07.08.23 : The Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) on Sunday withdrew support to the N. Biren Singh-led BJP government amid the ongoing strife in Manipur, while a prominent Meitei organisation called for a "social boycott" of the administration.

The twin developments came on a day the Centre rushed 10 more companies of paramilitary forces to Manipur against the backdrop of fresh killings and arson.

The KPA, which debuted in the 2022 Assembly elections and won both the seats it contested, said in a one-paragraph letter to governor Anusuiya Uikey: “After careful consideration of the current conflagration, the continued support for the incumbent government of Manipur led by chief minister N. Biren Singh is no longer fructuous.”

“Accordingly, the support of the KPA to the government of Manipur is hereby withdrawn and can be considered null and void,” the letter, signed by party president Tongmang Haokip, added.

The withdrawal of support will not have any immediate impact on the Biren Singh government as it still has a majority in the 60-member House. Apart from the five MLAs of the Congress and now the two KPA lawmakers, the other parties are still backing the BJP-led government, BJP insiders said.

The BJP had won 32 seats on its own in the 2022 polls, one more than simple majority, while five JDU MLAs joined it last year. The lone remaining JDU MLA, the NPP (7) and the NPF (5) are with the government.

Confirming the withdrawal, KPA general secretary L. Hangshing told The Telegraph that the party had taken the decision to take back support on Friday and it was formally emailed to the Raj Bhavan on Sunday. He said they had been “only extending outside support" to the government.

All 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, including the seven from the BJP, two from the KPA and one Independent, have been demanding an administration separate from Manipur soon after the conflict between the Meiteis and the Kukis erupted on May 3, leaving at least 165 dead and 60,000 displaced till now.

“If the Kuki-Zo MLAs leave, they will face disqualification. It is unlikely they will leave the party. They are only trying to put pressure,” a BJP source said.

The day also saw the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a conglomerate of leading civil society organisations of the Meiteis in the valley, declaring a “social boycott” of the state government for its “failure” to pay heed to the "people’s resolution" to summon a special Assembly session by August 5 to discuss the crisis.

The resolution was adopted on July 29 against “Kuki-Chin narco-terrorism” which the COCOMI blames for the ongoing unrest.

The state government had on Friday night recommended to the governor that an Assembly session be summoned on August 21, a decision which has not gone down well with most civil society organisations that are also unhappy with the overall law-and-order situation.

The situation in the state remained tense on Sunday, a day after three Meiteis were killed by suspected Kuki miscreants in Bishnupur district and two Kukis died during a search operation by the security forces that followed in adjoining Churachandpur district. The Centre was compelled to rush 10 additional companies of paramilitary forces to the state.

An official said sporadic firing continued in Terakhonshangpi, a few kilometres from Kwakta in Bishnupur district where the three Meitei people were killed.