President's Rule likely as no consensus in Manipur

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers in Manipur on Tuesday scrambled to find a successor to caretaker chief minister N Biren Singh as the spectre of President's Rule loomed large over the embattled state and a deadline for convening the assembly session neared.

- Thomas Ngangom and Prawesh Lama

IMPHAL/NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers in Manipur on Tuesday scrambled to find a successor to caretaker chief minister N Biren Singh as the spectre of President's Rule loomed large over the embattled state and a deadline for convening the assembly session neared.

Groups of BJP lawmakers held a string of meetings with the party's north-east coordinator, Sambit Patra, as consensus eluded the legislators on choosing a successor to Biren Singh, who resigned on Sunday. Around 4.45pm, Patra along with BJP Manipur chief, Sharda Devi, and at least three lawmakers, reached the Raj Bhavan in Imphal and met governor Ajay Bhalla for about half an hour, said people aware of the matter.

The party or Raj Bhavan did not issue any statement, but people aware of the matter said the leaders may have informed Bhalla that they were yet to decide on Singh's replacement.