Decision eludes NPP’s Guwahati meet

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 27: A meeting of the National People’s Party (NPP) held today at Guwahati deliberated on whether the party should continue its support to the BJP Government in Manipur or withdraw support but the meeting could not take any concrete decision.
It is said that the party may take a decision on the same matter at its National executive committee meeting scheduled on October 5 at New Delhi.
The meeting held today at Radisson Blu Hotel, Guwahati was presided by NPP president Conrad Sang-ma and it deliberated on what roles NPP should take towards bringing a solution to the Manipur crisis and restoring peace in the State.
The meeting was participated by 22 officials of NPP State unit including six of the seven NPP MLAs of Manipur.
MLAs Khuraijam Loken (Wangoi AC), Janghemlung Panmei (Tamenglong AC), Irengbam Nalini (Oinam AC), Sheikh Noorul Hassan (Kshetrigao AC), Thongam Shanti (Moirang AC) and Mayanglambam Rameshwar (Kakching AC) attended the meeting.
However, NPP State president N Kayisii could not attend the meeting due to a health problem.
The meeting discussed in detail the initiatives taken up by the BJP Government to work out a solution to the 16 months old Manipur crisis as well as the Government’s failure to bring a solution.
The meeting also deliberated on whether the NPP should go on supporting the BJP Government in Manipur or pull out of it.
Three of the NPP MLAs pointed out that NPP is still a partner of BJP-led NDA and they expressed their opinion in favour of continuing the party’s support to the BJP Government in Manipur, sources said.
Two other MLAs remained silent on whether the party should still support the BJP Government or pull out of it.
However, one MLA asserted that the NPP’s image will be tarnished severely  if the party continues to support the BJP Government in Manipur. He also made a strong point to pull out the party’s support from the BJP Government in order to win people’s faith and ensure a better show in the next Manipur State Assembly election.
Although N Kayisii was not present at the meeting, he sent his opinion on the question whether the NPP should continue supporting the BJP Government or withdraw its support to the NPP National president.
Pointing out that the people’s grievances and indignation against the BJP Government has been rising day by day in Manipur and the people’s anger may spill over to NPP if the party continues its support to the BJP Government, NPP State executive committee members asserted that NPP can strengthen its position in Manipur by withdrawing from the BJP Government.
Even though the meeting ended without taking any concrete decision, Conrad Sangma said that a concrete decision will be adopted at the NPP National executive committee meeting scheduled on October 5 at New Delhi.
It is said that NPP Manipur president N Kayisii and NPP National vice-president Y Joykumar would attend the October 5 meeting.