BJP retains Manipur after rebel NPP MLAs meet JP Nadda

The legislators, who had earlier withdrew their support to the BJP-led coalition government in the northeast state, changed their minds after they had a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda.

In a post on Twitter, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote: "A NPP delegation led by @SangmaConrad and Dy  Chief Minister of Manipur Sri Y Joy Kumar Singh met Honble President  of @BJP4India  Sri @JPNadda  ji today in New Delhi. NPP will continue to support BJP govt in Manipur for the development of Manipur."

Chief Minister N Biren Singh's government in Mizoram was thrown into a political debacle earlier this month after nine MLAs --including four from ally NPP, three from the BJP, the lone Trinamool Congress MLA  and the other Independent MLA -- withdrew support.

The NPP MLAs, including the state's former Deputy Chief Minister  Y Joykumar Singh and cabinet ministers N Kayisii, L Jayanta Kumar Singh and Letpao Haokip, were flown to Delhi on Wednesday morning to meet the top brass of BJP.

The NPP MLAs had earlier joined the opposition Congress' camp to form the Secular Progressive Front or SPF.

Blaming the BJP's high-handed behaviour, the MLAs had vowed to withdraw support.

The Congress accordingly met the governor to demand a floor test and it was then the BJP went into damage control.

Himanta Biswa Sarma and senior BJP leader Ram Madhav were deputed to deal with the crisis.

After meeting the rebel MLAs, they decided that the party's top leadership needs to intervene in the issue.