The crisis in Manipur took another turn Sunday with Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP), the second-largest ally with seven MLAs in the BJP-led NDA state government, withdrawing its support to the ruling alliance citing its failure to “restore normalcy” and expressing “deep concern”.

The move does not pose an immediate threat to the government led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, as the BJP holds a comfortable majority with 37 MLAs of its own in the 60-member Assembly.

However, the pullout of a key local ally represents a political setback, signalling further erosion in support on the ground for the administration. An NPP MLA told The Indian Express: “The state government is already at odds with seven BJP Kuki MLAs. Without the seven NPP MLAs, he (Biren) will struggle to prove his majority in the Assembly now.”

Announcing the pullout, NPP chief Conrad Sangma said, “We strongly feel that the Manipur state government under the leadership of Shri Biren Singh has completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy. Keeping the current situation in mind, the National People’s Party has decided to withdraw its support to the Biren Singh led Government in the State of Manipur, with immediate effect.”

The letter, addressed to BJP chief JP Nadda, said, “In the last few days, we have seen the situation further deteriorate where many more innocent lives have been lost and people in the state are going through immense suffering.”

Hours after the pullout, the Opposition Congress turned up the heat on the government. Its state chief K Meghachandra announced that he and the party’s four other MLAs were ready to resign from the House “if the people of Manipur want to bring a new mandate to bring peace”.

The political turmoil came a day after the houses of several state ministers and MLAs were burnt down by mobs following the discovery of bodies of a Meitei woman and two children in a Jiribam river. The three had gone missing from a relief camp in the district after an alleged attack by suspected Hmar militants. The attack had also led to ten suspected Hmar gunmen being killed in CRPF fire.

The latest development also comes amid rumblings of discontent within the BJP with some of the party’s MLAs said to be camping in Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Home Ministry officials said Shah has not yet met them. “There were rumours of BJP MLAs resigning but no such thing is happening as of now,” BJP MLA from Lamlai, Khongbantabam Ibomcha, told The Indian Express.

Shah, meanwhile, cancelled his political programmes in Maharashtra, where elections are around the corner, to monitor the security situation in Manipur. Sources said Shah held a review meeting with senior security officials with another meeting scheduled Monday.

“The Home Minister has instructed that restoration of peace is the priority and all steps necessary must be taken to achieve that. Some instructions were passed on today. The Home Minister will conduct a review tomorrow of how much of these have been translated on the ground,” a Home Ministry official said.

Sources said the Home Minister had also dispatched CRPF DG Anish Dayal Singh, who is also from the Manipur cadre, to Imphal even as the commander of Indian Army’s 3 Corps arrived in the state Sunday afternoon.

“There have been a series of incidents, from killing of women and children by Kuki militants to the imposition of AFSPA in the valley, which has angered people. The houses of Ministers and MLAs were burnt down. We have learnt that the Home Minister has cancelled his trip to Maharashtra to deal with the situation. We have also learnt that a meeting has taken place on the issue but I am not aware what decision has been taken,” BJP MLA Ibomcha said.

Khurai MLA L Susindro, who was in Delhi when his house was burnt down in Manipur, said, “I did not meet the Home Minister, I am back in Imphal now. While I was away, my house was burnt down. I am busy collecting my belongings.”

A minister in the Biren Singh Cabinet, however, said no more MLAs had gone to Delhi. “There are some MLAs already camping there, and some others had gone before the fresh violence. Rumours of resignations keep spreading from time to time. There are a set of MLAs who want the CM out,” he said.

Sources said a large number of MLAs want Delhi to take decisive action. A few months ago, as many as 19 MLAs had submitted a memorandum to the Centre on what needs to be done to end the violence.

Another MLA, whose house was burnt down Saturday, said, “The people are angry, emotions are running high. They don’t know where to turn so they are taking their anger out on us,” the MLA, known to be close to Biren Singh, said.

According to the MLA, some legislators were in talks about resigning. “They have no option. The situation has gone out of hand. People see that public representatives are unable to protect them. Naturally, some will find it difficult to continue,” the MLA said.

But the MLA suggested that the blame lay with the Centre. “The CM is powerless. Everything is being managed by the security advisor (Kuldiep Singh). It is like the CM’s hands and legs have been tied, and he has been thrown in the river. How do you expect him to swim?” he said.

While the situation Sunday was relatively calm overall, a mob attacked the RSS office at Haraorok in Imphal East around 10 am. No one was hurt in the attack although office property was vandalised. There was also an attempt to storm the residence of MLA K Robindro at Mayang Imphal in Thoubal district. However, security forces managed to disperse the protesters.