The Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma flew to Manipur capital on Sunday and held meetings with the four former ministers, whose resignation has plunged the Biren Singh government into trouble, in an apparent patch-up bid.
The four former minister had withdrawn support from the N Biren Singh government last week.
In total, nine MLAs withdrew their support. Apart from four NPP legislators, three from the BJP have resigned as MLAs and joined the Congress.
The lone TMC MLA and one one independent legislator also withdrew support.
It is reportedly said that Mr Sarma and Mr Sangma are believed to have had several rounds of meetings with MLAs and party officials, both together and separately. However, NPP sources told NDTV that these meetings were “inconclusive”.
It is also said that Conrad Sangma is trying to persuade his MLAs to reconsider their decision to withdraw support and join the Congress-led SPF, which is pushing for a special session of the Assembly to move a no-confidence motion against the government.
Also on Sunday the Manipur unit of the NPP issued a statement explaining its actions. “The BJP is running the government in an autocratic manner and has refused to form a steering committee,” it said, while also alleging that there was no common minimum programme, no name for the alliance or consultation with coalition partners to decide Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha candidates and no allotment of ministerial portfolios.
