At least 43 members of the Bharatiya Janata Party resigned from Phungyar Mandal in Ukhrul district amid growing frustration among grassroots cadres over alleged disregard for local leadership ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Manipur. The resigning members include the mandal president, leaders of the Mahila, Yuva, and Kisan morchas, and multiple booth presidents from the Naga-majority constituency.
The departing BJP functionaries issued a statement citing “lack of consultation, inclusiveness, and respect for grassroots leadership” within the party. They emphasised unwavering loyalty to the party’s ideology and commitment to their community’s welfare, but expressed dismay at how internal decision-making has evolved.
State BJP leadership responded sharply, accusing the resigning members of engaging in anti-party activities since the 2022 Assembly elections. Awung Shimray Hopingson, BJP Manipur Pradesh vice-president, dismissed the resignations as a publicity stunt intended to mislead the public and tarnish the party’s image for personal gain.
Hopingson insisted that mandal and booth-level executive committees in the Phungyar constituency remain intact, steadfastly committed to the party’s agenda, and that disciplinary actions have been initiated against those who quit.
The timing of the resignations adds political weight. PM Modi is expected to arrive in Manipur on 13 September, marking his first trip since the outbreak of ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo people in May 2023, which left over 260 dead and thousands displaced.
Phungyar assembly constituency has a Naga majority, making the views of local BJP units significant in shaping electoral strength and communal harmony in the region. Observers believe the resignations could erode local support or create fissures within the party just as high-profile visits tend to galvanise public attention.
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