BJP leaders to pick next Manipur CM tomorrow

With Manipur staring at a constitutional crisis following N Biren Singh's resignation as Chief Minister, the BJP high command will hold a crucial meeting here on February 12 to select the new CM. Party sources said all BJP legislators (including the 10 Kuki MLAs) from the Northeastern state have been summoned to attend the deliberations.

The Budget session of the Mainpur Assembly was to commence from today, but Governor AK Bhalla revoked the order summoning the session. The opposition Congress had planned to bring a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led state government. Political observers said the President's rule in the state couldn't be ruled out.

Meanwhile, according to local sources, senior BJP leaders held parleys in Imphal with their MLAs to discuss the potential chief ministerial candidate. BJP's Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra also held discussions with select BJP legislators in the state capital on Monday. Khemchand and Speaker C Satyabrata are considered to be frontrunners for the CM's post.