BJP-Samata cracks widen

IMPHAL, April 30: The barely three month old People's Front Government led by the Samata Party appears to be driven by internal differences between the BJP and the Samata Party as the latter has accused the former of trying to topple the Samata led regime. The differences between the two parties have been highlighted to the Samata Party central leadership in a message sent to the Samata president KK Krishna Rao by the State unit president O Lohrii today. The message was made available to the press by a well-placed source. The message said that even though the Central BJP leadership had decided to stay away from the Kshetrigao by-election, the State unit of the party is yet to reconcile to the idea of giving up the seat to the Samata Party. "The Manipur unit of the BJP has not reconciled to the idea of not putting up its candidate against us. Subsequently I Sanatomba (BJP) was given the Congress ticket. We do not know the understanding the BJP, Manipur unit reached with the Congress here," said O Lohrii, casting aspersion on the stand of the BJP. The Samata Party president said even though PB Acharya, BJP secretary for NE made a statement to the press that the BJP would support the Samata Party candidate in the by-election, "the ground realities are very different. Acharya seems to be giving only lip service." The message further said that earlier RK Dorendro, BJP legislator party leader had stated that the BJP would not campaign for the Samata Party candidate. Pouring out their grievances, O Lohrii said Acharya who was camping at Imphal did not turn up for the flag hosting ceremony of the Samata Party candidate. None of the other BJP leaders also attended the function. "This attitude of the party is helping the Congress in election," continued Lohrii. Lohrii accused Acharya of saying that "central assistance could be obtained only when there is BJP led government in the State." He added "BJP is saying in effect that the BJP led Union government is not giving Central assistance to Manipur because there is not BJP led Government or that the BJP would not give Central assistance to Manipur until a BJP led Government is installed. BJP is bent on toppling the Government led by the Samata party in the state.