Manipur story gets bigger

Conrad Sangma, chief of the National People's Party (NPP) and chief minister of Meghalaya, has withdrawn support to the Manipur government, which is run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

- ADITI PHADNIS

However, the government, with support from 32 members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), is not in any danger of destabilization. What is more, the NPP will continue to be a member of the Northeast Democratic Alliance, floated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Northeastern equivalent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and will continue to stay in alliances where the BJP is a partner. In Meghalaya, the NPP, with 31 MLAs, is in power, and is supported by two BJP MLAs. In Nagaland, the NPP, with five MLAs, remains in the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-led ruling alliance. Five NPP MLAs are also part of the BJP-led ruling alliance in Arunachal Pradesh.

Mr Sangma's demand is: Replace N Biren Singh as chief minister of Manipur and we will return to support the government. In a sense, it is a cry from the heart. But there's politics and self-interest at work too.