What has left Manipur's new CM so confused?

It doesn't take long for things to change. At least in Manipur, it seems so.

Just four days after coming to power in Manipur, the BJP-led coalition government in Manipur had jubilantly declared an "end to the bandh culture" in the state after successfully resolving the four-month-long blockade imposed by the United Naga Council.  

A week later, the same government seems to be scratching its head in confusion following twin bandhs called over the weekend by the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and another by the Manipur Muslim Welfare Association.

While the DESAM had called a 17-hour (starting March 25 midnight) bandh in  protest against the induction of independent MLA Ashab Uddin as parliamentary secretary, the Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation imposed a 24-hour strike from 6pm on March 25 demanding a "white paper" on the Centre's deal with the NSCN (I-M).

The student body says the "independent MLA's appointment to the Assembly is a threat to the rights of the indigenous people of the state since, it believes, Ashab Uddin is a Bengali Muslim and not Meitei Muslim (Pangal)".

A visibly confused chief minister N Biren Singh told mediapersons that Ashab Uddin won the Assembly election. "I am confused what is going on? He is a citizen of India and Manipur, how can one bar him from contesting the election. Moreover, people have also elected him as their representative what can I do about that.”

MLA Ashab Uddin is among the newly inducted 12 parliamentary secretaries and has been given the portfolio of commerce and industries.

Recently, when Manipur governor Najma Heptulla said her government is committed to making Manipur a "bandh-free" state, everybody, including the local media, welcomed her statement.

If not for anything else, everyone felt the governor's effort should be acknowledged because perhaps that was the first time in many addresses by successive governors that the head of the state made stressed the government's commitment to making Manipur a blockade-free state.

People were finally trying to tell themselves that perhaps people in Manipur too could lead a "normal" life  like the rest of the states in India, especially after the promises made by the newly sworn-in BJP government.

After all, chief minister Biren Singh's government managed to strike a deal with the Naga groups to lift the five-month-long economic blockade in the state within four days of coming to power.

Singh said the lifting of the blockade was "just the beginning" and that his government was trying to fulfil the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the people of the state.

A few hopefuls even called people, especially civil society organisations and student outfits, too chip in and see if they can stay away from imposing a bandh/blockade.

Because the common man in Manipur, although have been braving bandhs for too long, feels it's time to come out of the "bandh culture" that brings nothing but economic hardship to people.

The governor too felt it necessary to announce the "commitment of the BJP state government" to make Manipur a blockade-free state.

Of course, the governor commitment was just an extension of what the BJP's Northeast in-charge Ram Madhav have been promising all along in the run-up to the elections — to make Manipur bandh-mukt.

"Manipur has suffered enormously because of blockades... If we come to power, we will make sure that blockades don't take place," he had told local news agencies.

PM Modi had blamed the now-ousted Congress government for not taking necessary steps to end the blockade imposed by the UNC. "No blockade will be allowed once the BJP comes to power,” he had said. 

Just after assuming office on March 15, Biren Singh too had stated that his government’s first priority would be to hold talks with the UNC and end the blockade.

Yet, normal life in Manipur was partially paralysed once again on March 25.

Although no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state during the general strike, it's curious that the BJP, which formed a government in Manipur despite not being the single largest party by cobbling together a post-poll alliance, is facing problems in the second week itself.

The governor too had defended the decision to invite the BJP to prove majority, saying, "... it's the responsibility of the governor is to see who has majority and will work for state's stability".

The DESAM had called the strike demanding that the MLA be removed from his post and his portfolios withdrawn.

Biren Singh already looks dejected. "The government is helpless in this matter," he said before leaving for New Delhi.

While the MLA maintained his family (ancestors) has been living in the state since 1906, DESAM said it will intensify its agitation if the ministerial portfolio of Ashab Uddin was not withdrawn.

While both parties look adamant on Ashab Uddin's appointment, the situation in Manipur once again raises questions over the BJP's claims and intentions about a bandh-mukt Manipur.

Also read: What was Modi government's role in ending economic blockade in Manipur?