N Biren Singh led BJP government of Manipur could be in trouble as 12 MLAs are reportedly camping in Delhi protesting against chief minister N Biren Singh and also at the same time, demanding a change of the Chief Minister.

Most of the MLAs are from the Kuki community of Manipur, a tribe from the state’s hill area which has earlier clashed on several issues with the previous government under Ibobi Singh, too.

According to reports, one of the main reasons for their protest is the scrapping of the 2008 Suspension of Operation agreement by Biren Singh in March 2023.

The agreement was on a ceasefire of operations against Kuki insurgent groups and the locals are repeatedly telling their MLAs that this ceasefire of operations and the subsequent crackdowns are impacting on the everyday life in Kuki areas.

“BJP in Manipur and the North East has gained ground because of the national leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah but of late because of State BJP and leadership of the State Government we are facing some issues. Leadership in Manipur is not democratic, more like a monarchy and as 2024 approaches we want these issues sorted out,” said one of the MLAs, on condition of anonymity.

On Monday, BJP MLA from Manipur’s Langthabal Assembly constituency, Karam Shyam, resigned from the post of chairman of the Tourism Corporation of Manipur.

The BJP MLA Shyam in his resignation letter wrote he is resigning from the post as he hadn’t been assigned any responsibility in his post.

“I am resigning from the post of chairman of Tourism Corporation of Manipur Limited as I have not been assigned any responsibility as a chairman,” Shyam wrote.

Earlier, on April 13, BJP MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh resigned as the adviser to Chief Minister Biren Singh, who also stated the same reason for his resignation.

Senior BJP leaders said that the National leaders will soon have a meeting with the MLAs to sort out the issue. It is to be noted that two ministerial berths in the Biren Singh Ministry are vacant.

(With inputs from Deccan Herald and The Hindu)