Nadda landed in Imphal amidst fanfare as the state government and the state unit of the party pulled out all stops preparing for his warm welcome.
TFM Desk
BJP national president JP Nadda on Saturday asserted that if there is peace in Manipur, it is because the people voted for BJP in the 2017 state general election.
Nadda landed in Imphal amid fanfare as the state government and the state unit of the party pulled out all stops preparing for his warm welcome.
Speaking at a public meeting at SAI ground, Utlou, Bishnupur district, Nadda said that peace is a by-product of the right government that people choose.
“If you bring in the wrong government, then you are cutting/hacking your own feet,” he added.
Appreciating the people lining up on the way to the venue from the airport, he said, “looking at the enthusiasm and support of the people today, I’m convinced that BJP is going to form the next government (in the state)”.
Taking potshots at the previous Congress regime, the BJP national president maintained that “corruption, commission, criminalisation” were the order of the thay.
“You can only respect light if you know the curse of darkness,” he said, adding during the last five years of BJP in the state, there has been nothing but “light”, insinuating that the situations have much improved compared to the previous regime.
Stating that there is “double engine government” in the state, Nadda said, while PM Modi guides, CM Biren works. He also mentioned several central schemes which have been implemented in the state.
Nadda also maintained that the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) was brought in the state with an aim to preserve the identity, property and cultural heritage of the people of the state.
He also exhorted the people to take the right decision at the right time, so that future generations may remember. If you choose the wrong decision at the right time, problems arise in society, he added.
JP Nadda in Manipur to troubleshoot?
JP Nadda’s visit in the state came amidst speculations of growing discontent amongst ruling MLAs against incumbent chief minister N Biren Singh and the perceived electoral impact of the new Autonomous District Council Bill. Several MLAs from hill districts have been camping in Delhi and meeting several leaders including the President of India, regarding the issue. Many political pundits are speculating that the Bill may become a sore point in the hill districts in the run up to the election.
During the BJP national president’s two day visit, he is expected to meet all the MLAs of the ruling coalition to gauge their mood, according to reports.
Recently, the BJP high command summoned CM Biren, minister Th Biswajit Singh, and state unit president A Sharda Devi to Delhi, and made several inquiries about the current situation in the state. The leaders were reportedly asked about their roadmap for winning the 2022 assembly elections.
In September, the BJP’s election in-charge for Manipur, Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with CM Biren, amongst others, regarding the status of preparations for the forthcoming assembly polls. Following Amit Shah’s sudden summons to CM Biren last week, there were rumours of a possible “leadership change”.
Senior party leaders admit there are some problems, but say efforts are being made to resolve them.
“Elections are just round the corner and replacing Biren Singh at this point of time will not be an effective solution,” said a senior BJP leader to ThePrint. “He has been asked to take everyone along and an instruction has been given to him that instead of keeping the problems in limbo, his focus should be on solving them immediately.”
BJP state president Sharda Devi told ThePrint that party leaders are fully aware of issues that “have caused some resentment among the people”.
“These issues will be discussed in detail during the upcoming Manipur visit of the party’s national president,” she added.
Discussing the interaction in Delhi, Devi said it was “an organisational meeting”. “Since only four months are left for the assembly election, Amit Shah ji also sought full details about how the party is going to retain power once again,” she added. “Strategies were also discussed.”