Manipur BJP MLAs step up pressure

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 26. Legislators from Manipur, who voted out the Radhabinod Koijam Government last week, today continued to pressure the National Democratic Alliance against placing the State under President's rule.

The 41-member BJP-led five-party alliance saw a glimmer of hope that its view was receiving attention in the quarters concerned. Its efforts seem to have impressed two NDA leaders who agreed that the majority wish of legislators should prevail in the formation of a government.

With the leadership of the Samata and the Bharatiya Janata Party preferring to seal their lips till the May 28 meeting on the Manipur imbroglio that caused a fracture in their relations, 36 legislators under the banner of the Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA), who have been camping here since Thursday, today met the Lok Jan Shakti president and Communications Minister, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan.

Mr. Paswan is said to have told the delegation that he had requested the Prime Minister that the NDA should not get into the issue. He appeared to be convinced that it was for the legislators to elect a new Chief Minister. Like the Janata Dal (United) president, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Paswan too did not favour bringing Manipur under Central rule.

Incidentally, the BJP Legislature Party leader, Mr. R.K. Dorendra Singh, who has been elected to head the PDA and the Assembly Speaker, Mr. S. Dhananjoy Singh, have been moving around

separately. The Samata had earlier charged Mr. Dhananjoy Singh with engineering a revolt against Mr. Koijam.

The ousted Chief Minister, Mr. Koijam and the Samata State unit leader, Mr. O. Lohrii, are expected here tomorrow, while the lone Congress MLA and former Chief Minister, Mr. Rishang Keishing, is already here.

On the other hand, Mr. Gangmumei Kamei, PDA spokesperson and leader of constituent Federal Party, told correspondents the group was convinced that the BJP would be able to provide a stable government in the State and also get cooperation from the Centre.

The Communist Party of India national council in a resolution today demanded new elections in Manipur on the ground that the State was being ``held to ransom by a bunch of defectors''. It charged the Samata and the BJP with making ``a mockery of democracy'' in the sensitive State.

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