<p>Guwahati: With <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/manipur">Manipur</a> Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla coming under fire in the Meitei-dominated Valley over alleged covering of the word 'Manipur' from a state transport bus by security forces recently, at least 10 MLAs on Wednesday met Bhalla with a call for installing a "popular" government for handling the situation. </p><p>The 10 MLAs, nine from the Valley, claimed to have support of 44 legislators and urged Bhalla to expedite the process for formation of the government. The team included eight BJP MLAs, one NPP and an independent. </p><p>"We spoke on behalf of 44 MLAs and told the Governor that given the growing pressure from the public, this is the time to install a popular government. People want formation of a popular government and we conveyed this to the Governor," BJP MLA Thockchom Radheshyam Singh told reporters in Imphal after meeting the Governor.</p><p>When asked whether they would stake a claim to form the new government, Singh said the party high command would take a decision. They also did not talk about who would be their leader to become the new CM.</p><p>The 10 MLAs are: Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, Sheikh Noorul Hassan, Paonam Brojen Singh, Yumnam Radheshyam Singh, Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei, Thangjam Arunkumar, Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh and Kongkham Robindro Singh (all BJP), Janghemlung Panmei (NPP) and Sapam Nishikant Singh (Independent). </p><p>The MLAs met the Governor hours after former CM N. Biren Singh met Bhalla on Tuesday evening.</p><p>Manipur at present has 59 in the House of 60 MLAs. Another MLA, who met the Governor, said that the 44 MLAs did not include 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs and five belonging to the Opposition Congress. </p>.President's rule failed to maintain peace in Manipur, alleges Congress.<p><strong>President's Rule: </strong></p><p>Manipur has remained under President's Rule since February 13 after N. Biren Singh resigned in view of the conflict involving the Meitei and the Kuki communities. The Centre promulgated President's Rule after the ruling MLAs failed to decide a consensus candidate to replace Biren Singh. </p><p>Although the Centre held talks with both the Meitei and the Kukis, both separately and together, after promulgation of the President's Rule, a solution to the conflict has still remained away. The Kuki organisations including 10 MLAs recently said they would not engage into any further talks without resumption of "substantive political dialogue" with the Kuki rebel groups presently in Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. Meiteis are against this.</p><p>Amid efforts to end the conflict, fresh tension erupted after security forces allegedly covered the word 'Manipur' from a bus of the state transport on May 20. The bus was carrying journalists from the Valley to cover the Shirui Lily festival in Naga-dominated Ukhrul. Although the forces called it a safety move as the bus would pass through Kuki areas, Meiteis considered it an insult to the state. COCOMI, an influential Meitei organisation, launched an agitation demanding the resignation of the Governor and an apology from him. </p><p>The protesters even tried to storm into Raj Bhavan and forced the Governor to use a chopper from Imphal airport to reach Raj Bhavan, a distance of seven kilometers by blocking his road route on Monday. </p>
<p>Guwahati: With <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/manipur">Manipur</a> Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla coming under fire in the Meitei-dominated Valley over alleged covering of the word 'Manipur' from a state transport bus by security forces recently, at least 10 MLAs on Wednesday met Bhalla with a call for installing a "popular" government for handling the situation. </p><p>The 10 MLAs, nine from the Valley, claimed to have support of 44 legislators and urged Bhalla to expedite the process for formation of the government. The team included eight BJP MLAs, one NPP and an independent. </p><p>"We spoke on behalf of 44 MLAs and told the Governor that given the growing pressure from the public, this is the time to install a popular government. People want formation of a popular government and we conveyed this to the Governor," BJP MLA Thockchom Radheshyam Singh told reporters in Imphal after meeting the Governor.</p><p>When asked whether they would stake a claim to form the new government, Singh said the party high command would take a decision. They also did not talk about who would be their leader to become the new CM.</p><p>The 10 MLAs are: Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, Sheikh Noorul Hassan, Paonam Brojen Singh, Yumnam Radheshyam Singh, Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei, Thangjam Arunkumar, Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh and Kongkham Robindro Singh (all BJP), Janghemlung Panmei (NPP) and Sapam Nishikant Singh (Independent). </p><p>The MLAs met the Governor hours after former CM N. Biren Singh met Bhalla on Tuesday evening.</p><p>Manipur at present has 59 in the House of 60 MLAs. Another MLA, who met the Governor, said that the 44 MLAs did not include 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs and five belonging to the Opposition Congress. </p>.President's rule failed to maintain peace in Manipur, alleges Congress.<p><strong>President's Rule: </strong></p><p>Manipur has remained under President's Rule since February 13 after N. Biren Singh resigned in view of the conflict involving the Meitei and the Kuki communities. The Centre promulgated President's Rule after the ruling MLAs failed to decide a consensus candidate to replace Biren Singh. </p><p>Although the Centre held talks with both the Meitei and the Kukis, both separately and together, after promulgation of the President's Rule, a solution to the conflict has still remained away. The Kuki organisations including 10 MLAs recently said they would not engage into any further talks without resumption of "substantive political dialogue" with the Kuki rebel groups presently in Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. Meiteis are against this.</p><p>Amid efforts to end the conflict, fresh tension erupted after security forces allegedly covered the word 'Manipur' from a bus of the state transport on May 20. The bus was carrying journalists from the Valley to cover the Shirui Lily festival in Naga-dominated Ukhrul. Although the forces called it a safety move as the bus would pass through Kuki areas, Meiteis considered it an insult to the state. COCOMI, an influential Meitei organisation, launched an agitation demanding the resignation of the Governor and an apology from him. </p><p>The protesters even tried to storm into Raj Bhavan and forced the Governor to use a chopper from Imphal airport to reach Raj Bhavan, a distance of seven kilometers by blocking his road route on Monday. </p>