Ukhrul, Jan 14: Political fireworks ignited as Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren declared the BJP the only party capable of saving Manipur while setting a bold target of winning 50 seats in the 2027 Assembly elections. Meanwhile, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) hit back, accusing the BJP-led government of failing to address the ongoing turmoil in the state.
Speaking at the “Samvidhan Gourav Avhiyaan” held at Thambal Sanglen in memory of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on Tuesday, Chief Minister Biren revealed that sitting MLAs from other parties have shown interest in joining the BJP, citing the people’s immense trust in the party. “Educated citizens and patriots know that BJP is the only party that can save Manipur,” he said.
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The Chief Minister also lambasted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for attending Parliament in a T-shirt and sandals, calling it globally unacceptable, and criticized former Home Minister P. Chidambaram for signing the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with “foreign militants.”
N. Biren accused the Congress of disrespecting the Constitution and failing to resolve the state’s issues when in power. He further alleged that Congress MPs who promised to resolve the current crisis have failed to deliver, while BJP’s national leaders have been working to fulfill the desires of Manipur’s people.
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In a sharp counter, MPCC Vice President Hareshwar Goswami accused the BJP-led government of turning a deaf ear to opposition calls for an Assembly session to address the crisis. He alleged that the state government is unaware of the root causes of the violence and criticised its inability to secure an audience with the Prime Minister to seek intervention.
“Congress, under CLP leader Okram Ibobi, has made repeated efforts to pressurise CM Biren to resolve the crisis amicably. BJP’s conflicting narratives on the crisis reveal that the State Inquiry Committee is nothing more than a façade,” Goswami said. He also took a dig at BJP Minister Govindas Konthoujam, accusing him of making baseless allegations against Congress to serve vested interests.
The MPCC blamed the BJP-led “double-engine government” for its failure to manage the unrest, stating that its leaders have been unable to take decisive action or even secure the Prime Minister’s attention to address the crisis.
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As Manipur continues to grapple with ethnic violence and political instability, the war of words between the BJP and Congress highlights the deepening political divide in the state.
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