Manipur BJP MLA warns of quitting party

Manipur's ruling BJP MLA L Susindro Meitei on Friday said he would be compelled to leave the party if the state government does not work for the interests of the people.

The former minister's statement came weeks after he launched a veiled attack on Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh, claiming that the state government’s performance dipped after the President’s Rule was lifted in February and he might quit the party.

"The BJP is good, but there exist problems concerning those who are leading the party in the state. I have been told by people in my constituency not to contest the polls on a BJP ticket but fight from any other party or as an independent as they have been thinking of not voting for the BJP," he said.

The assembly election in the northeastern state is due next year.

"I have no immediate plans to leave the BJP. However, I might be compelled to leave if the BJP-led government is not working in the interests of the people. That is clear," he said.

Meitei was the consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister under the previous chief minister N Biren Singh before President’s Rule was imposed in the ethnic violence-affected state early last year.

"What is important for me is to go with the people and work for them," the BJP MLA told reporters after attending a 'Har Ghar Tiranga' programme in his constituency, Khurai in Imphal East district.

On July 26, Meitei had said he may be compelled to leave the BJP if the functioning of the government continues to be “unsatisfactory”.

“The performance graph of the government did not fall much when I was part of the council of ministers, as well as during the period of the President’s Rule. That performance graph has now declined after the new government came as it failed to meet the expectations of the people,” he had said, without naming the current CM.

At least 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless since May 2023 due to ethnic violence in Manipur between the valley-based Meiteis and the Kukis who live in the hill districts.

Following continued ethic clashes and the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the state was placed under President’s Rule on February 13, 2025. It was lifted nearly a year later, on February 4.