A few days following violent clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zomi tribes in Manipur, resulting in a minimum of 60 casualties, Chief Minister N Biren Singh and four senior ministers travelled to the national capital and held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday evening. During the meeting, Singh and his ministers discussed the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur, according to sources.Accompanying the Chief Minister were state ministers Govindas Konthoujam, Th. Biswajit Singh, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, and Basanta Kumar, along with Manipur BJP chief A Sharda Devi and Rajya Sabha MP Sanajaoba Leishemba, who holds the title of the king of Manipur. According to sources, the BJP central leadership called for Singh to visit Delhi to address the political situation following the clashes.Amidst ongoing tension between the two communities in the state, the BJP leadership is taking a cautious approach in dealing with the situation, according to sources. While demands for a change in leadership, particularly from Kuki MLAs and the community, are growing louder, the party leadership has not made a decision on the matter yet.Image source: https://tse4.mm.bing.net/thidAccording to a source, the central leadership is displeased with the recent events in the state and the Chief Ministers handling of the situation. However, the party leadership is not inclined to immediately respond to the demand for a change in leadership. The party is mindful of its current standing in the state and acknowledges that the Chief Minister enjoys strong support from the Meitei community. Disrupting his position could have significant repercussions. Nevertheless, the party cannot overlook the appeals from the Kuki side.According to sources, the recent developments have potentially strengthened Singhs position as the Meitei community has expressed its support for him.Image source: https://tse2.mm.bing.net/thidShahs meeting with the Chief Minister comes shortly after a renewed demand for a separate Kuki administration was put forth by all 10 MLAs from the community who are part of the ruling side. Among them are two ministers, Letpao Haokip and Nemcha Kipgen. Interestingly, Vunzagin Valte, a BJP MLA and advisor to the Chief Minister, who was seriously injured in a mob attack, is also among the signatories advocating for a separate Kuki administration.Following peace negotiations between Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups and the government, the demand for a separate administration had subsided. However, the recent clashes have reignited this demand, as the Kuki tribes expressed concerns about their safety in Manipur and perceived a failure on the part of the state administration to provide adequate protection.Image sour e: https://tse4.mm.bing.net/tFurthermore, the violence in Manipur raised questions from the Opposition regarding the BJPs pursuit of a double-engine government in Karnataka. It also posed challenges to the partys efforts to win the support of the Christian community in states like Kerala, where the BJP aims to increase its electoral influence.Following the recent violence in Manipur, which saw several churches and Christian institutions being targeted, the church leadership has openly expressed dissatisfaction with the governments response. This has strained the BJPs relationship with the Christian community, which had previously supported the party in the last Assembly election, particularly the Kuki community who are predominantly Christians.In addition, a group of Kuki MLAs, along with a few dissenting Meitei MLAs, have been advocating for a change in leadership within the state.
