Continuing stand off at MU : Impact on LS Poll
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 10 2018 -

Chief Minister N Biren Singh must be a worried man.

Apart from the students who are directly affected, it stands that the longer the stand off continues at Manipur University, the more its impact will fall on the BJP led Government at Imphal.

As the man heading the coalition Government, the Chief Minister will be central to the impact that the stand off has on the coalition Government.

Ironic it is, that while the State Government cannot do much as Manipur University is a Central varsity, any negative fall out from the crisis will directly have an impact on the State Government and this impact is not going to be a pleasant one.

Cannot blame the perception of the people, but it stands that many see VC AP Pandey as a man representing the BJP and best exemplified by the fact that he has been able to stand so stubbornly for so long, due to his closeness to the BJP.

This image has stuck and any negative fall out due to this will fall on the BJP led Government.

And perhaps the first real test for this will come when Manipur goes to polls for the Lok Sabha elections sometime next year.

In case the BJP does not do well, particularly in the Inner Parliamentary Constituency, it is Chief Minister N Biren who will be in line for any mopping up exercise the BJP leadership at New Delhi may undertake to set things in order.

Not a comfortable position for the Chief Minister, and unfortunately there is not much he can do except pile the pressure on the Centre to remove AP Pandey from the chair of the VC at Manipur University.

What is happening at MU has certainly not gone down well with the people here and this sentiment may well be reflected in the Parliamentary elections some time next year.

In the event of the Chief Minister being made the fall guy if the BJP does not do well in the coming Parliamentary elections, then how will it impact on the BJP as a political party in the State ?

This is also a question which the BJP top leadership cannot afford to overlook.

It is unfortunate but true nonetheless that an issue which has crippled Manipur University should today come to pose a serious political question.

A situation borne out of the tendency of the BJP led Government at New Delhi to appoint its men to all key posts across the country.

This may be guided by their slogan Congress Mukt, but a slight error in the calculation can boomerang to such an extent that it can pose a serious question on the BJP as a political party.

This is one point which should not blow over the heads of anyone calling the shots in the party.

Early days yet but if the situation is not dealt with wisely and keeping in mind the sentiments of the people, it can prove to be extremely dis-advantageous to the BJP as a political party, at least in Manipur.

With the State Government not able to do anything of much substance in the present case as Manipur University is a Central varsity, all eyes are on New Delhi.

Why has such a long rope been given to AP Pandey is a question which everyone is raising right now and this is a question which only the BJP leadership at New Delhi can answer.

The hitch is, no one from New Delhi has deemed it fit to furnish any reason why this is so.