NPP withdraws support to BJP-led govt in violence-hit Manipur

The Conrad Sangma-led National People's Party (NPP) on Sunday withdrew support to the BJP-led government in Manipur, alleging that the ruling dispensation has failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy in the violence-hit state.

The northeastern state has been witnessing widespread violence and protests over the past few days after bodies of six people, who were allegedly abducted and killed by militants in Jiribam district, were discovered.

In a letter to BJP national president J.P. Nadda, the NPP alleged that the situation in Manipur further had deteriorated and many more innocent lives had been lost.

"We strongly feel that the Manipur state government under the leadership of Shri Biren Singh has completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy,” it said.

"Keeping the current situation in mind, the National People's Party has decided to withdraw its support to the Biren Singh government in the state of Manipur, with immediate effect," the letter further said.

The NPP has seven MLAs in the 60-member assembly. The party’s decision to pull out of the ruling coalition is unlikely to pose a threat to the government, as the BJP has a comfortable majority in the house with 37 legislators.

The saffron party also has the support of five Naga People's Front (NPF) MLAs, one JD(U) legislator, and three Independent MLAs.

The NPP’s decision came as the situation in Manipur continues to be volatile, with angry mobs attacking the houses of several legislators and ministers.

The bodies of two women and a child, who had been missing since November 11 from a camp for the displaced, were recovered from Barak River in Jiribam on Saturday, while three other bodies, including a woman and two children, were found on Friday night.