Sambit Patra takes first hand account of situation in Manipur Change of leadership on the card ?

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 4: The Manipur crisis may come to an end and the State may also see change of leadership with the 100 days’ period set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the Manipur crisis going to be complete on September 15, said well placed sources while interacting with The Sangai Express.  
Notably, Modi 3.0 Government would be completing 100 days on September 15.
Notably BJP North East coordinator and National spokesman Sambit Patra came and held a series of meetings with the Chief Minister, the Speaker, Ministers, MLAs, BJP Manipur Pradesh president, office bearers and some well known intellectuals.
Sambit Patra is also a BJP MP elected from Puri, Odisha.
Acting on specific instructions from the Government of India, Sambit Patra arrived at Imphal at 1.20 pm on Tuesday.
Except for some top leaders of the Government and BJP Manipur Pradesh, no BJP Ministers, MLAs and the party’s office bearers had prior information of the BJP North East Coordinator’s visit to the State.
Soon after arriving at Imphal, Sambit Patra held a meeting with Chief Minister N Biren at the latter’s bungalow.
Later, he held one to one meetings at Hotel Imphal with BJP Ministers, Ministers of other parties and BJP MLAs barring Kuki Ministers one after another.
Sambit Patra also visited BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sharda at her residence as she was unwell and could not come to Hotel Imphal and the two talked.
Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Th Satyabrata could not go  to Hotel Imphal as he too was indisposed. Subsequently, Sambit Patra went to the Speaker’s  residence and held another meeting.
Later, the BJP North East Coordinator talked with a few intellectuals on the current violent crisis and the State’s political scenario.
Sambit Patra went to Moreh in a helicopter this morning but it could not be ascertained whom he met at Moreh.
Yet, it is said that he met with top security officers and Government officials apart from making a direct assessment of the ground situation at the border township.
According to information received by The Sangai Express, Sambit Patra also talked over telephone with some BJP MLAs  who are currently outside the State.
Meanwhile, certain quarters have expressed strong suspicion that Sambit Patra   may have met some Kuki Ministers and MLAs at Moreh.
Sambit Patra came to the State under specific instructions from the Government of India, particularly Union Home Minister Amit Shah in order to work out a solution to the Manipur crisis before Modi 3.0 Government completes 100 days and bring about certain political changes in the State.
After returning from Moreh this morning, Sambit Patra held one to one meetings at Hotel Imphal with Ministers and ruling MLAs who were not there in the meeting held yesterday, and elicited their views on the Manipur crisis.
The BJP North East Coordinator held another round of meeting with Chief Minister N Biren at his bungalow today.
This was followed by another meeting with office bearers of BJP Manipur Pradesh and the meeting deliberated on exploring a solution to the Manipur crisis.
Sambit Patra sought suggestions from the Ministers and MLAs and what they wish the Centre should do in order to bring an end to the Manipur crisis, informed a well placed source.
They also talked about whether replacing the Chief Minister can check the violence or whether the incumbent Chief Minister should be retained.
Reshuffling of the Council of Ministers too figured at the meeting.
Sambit Patra’s visit was earlier scheduled to last four days during which he would also visit Churachandpur and Kangpokpi where he would Kuki Ministers and MLAs but the visit was cut short suddenly at the instruction of the Centre.
He left Imphal at 5.20 pm today.
Sambit Patra is expected to present a detailed report to the Government of India about his visit to Manipur.
Once Sambit Patra tables his report, the Government of India may work out a political solution to the Manipur crisis.
Many political experts and analysts have opined that Sambit Patra’s two-day visit is highly significant unlike his previous visits.
Sambit Patra collected detailed reports on the State’s political scenario, the law and order situation as well as the State Government’s financial position.
After he reaches Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah may initiate some concrete steps to bring the Manipur crisis to an end, added the sources.
In the meantime, many quarters have questioned if the Government of India has an intention to resolve the issue of Naga insurgency as well as the Meitei-Kuki conflict at one time.
Many observers have also pointed out the possibility of granting greater autonomy to Kukis and Nagas and Scheduled Tribe status to Meiteis.
Notably, the RSS has already expressed keen desire to keep the integrity of Manipur and her territorial boundary intact.
Many are also speculating the possibility of a Ministry reshuffle and replacement of   the Chief Minister.
Even if Chief Minister N Biren is replaced, he may be given a key post, not below the rank of a Chief Minister, according to the source.
If N Biren is removed from the post of Chief Minister, either Th Biswajit, Govindas Konthoujam, Y Khemchand or Th Basantakumar may be given the post of Chief Minister, further said the sources.
Dr Sapam Ranjan and Th Radheshyam are also projected as probable Chief Ministerial candidates.
Notably, Kuki Ministers and MLAs have been demanding removal of N Biren from the post of Chief Minister if there should be any dialogue on resolving the Manipur crisis.