UKHRUL: The Central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party called on legislators from the National Democratic Alliance in Manipur, eleven days before the second phase of the President’s Rule expires.
According to reports, the meeting scheduled for Monday evening to assess if the political situation is conducive for government formation. Among those in Delhi are Manipur Assembly Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh, former state minister Y. Khemchand Singh, former chief minister N Biren Singh.
The political instability in Manipur led to the resignation on February 9, 2025 of BJP-led government headed by Biren Singh. The 60-member state assembly under tenure till 2027 was put under suspended animation.
The death of N. Kayisii from the National People’s Party (NPP) last January resulted in 59 members currently in the Manipur assembly. 32 assembly seats are held by the BJP including seven from Kuki-Zo community, five MLAs from Janata Dal (United) joined BJP after the 2022 elections taking the party’s strength to 37 MLAs.
Conrad Sangma-led NPP, a former BJP ally holds six seats. The NPP withdrew its support for the N. Biren Singh government in 2024 due to the conflict. Former BJP ally, Kuki People’s Alliance has two MLAs, Naga People’s Front (NPF) five, three independent MLAs, five MLAs from Congress and one from JD(U).
The past four months have witnessed several rounds of talks with MLAs from both Kuki and Meitei communities including alliance parties—National People’s Party (NPP) and the Naga People’s Front. Despite this, sources state a key hurdle in the progress of talks is the BJP Kuki MLAs inability to give commitment on participation in any future government, apparently due to community pressure, The New Indian Express reported.
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The Kukis continue to seek firm commitment from the central leadership on their demand for a Union Territory with a legislature.
Reportedly, if the new government does not assume charge in the following weeks, a statutory resolution will have to be adopted in both Houses of Parliament in the first part of the ongoing Budget Session for the extension of the President’s Rule.