Imphal: In a significant political development, ten NDA MLAs, including eight from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two from the National People’s Party (NPP), met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday to stake claim to form a popular government in the state. They submitted a petition to the Governor bearing the signatures of 22 legislators and claimed the support of 44 MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly.
This move came a day after former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh met with the Governor to discuss key issues including peace restoration. BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, speaking to the media after Wednesday’s meeting at Raj Bhavan, stated that 44 MLAs were ready to back the formation of a new government. However, he added that a final decision would rest with the BJP’s central leadership.
Radheshyam expressed concern over the hardship faced by the public, noting that the first BJP government lost two years to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current term has seen over two years disrupted by ethnic violence.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, with the Assembly placed under suspended animation. The current Assembly’s term runs until 2027. Biren Singh had resigned from the Chief Minister's post on February 9, just days before the imposition of central rule.
A senior official revealed that during his meeting with the Governor, Biren Singh pressed for urgent measures to address critical concerns, including the issue of illegal immigrants. The demand for reinstating a popular government has been gaining momentum, with BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba recently voicing hope that such a government would be formed within two months. He underscored that the President’s Rule alone cannot resolve the ongoing crisis, and a functioning elected government is essential for effective governance and peace-building.
BJP’s North East in-charge Sambit Patra also visited Manipur earlier this month. During his trip, he met key stakeholders including Kuki BJP MLAs Vungzagin Valte and Nemcha Kipgen, as well as representatives from Kuki-Zo civil society organisations such as the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU). Patra held closed-door meetings with Biren Singh, Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, and other leaders, but the content of these discussions was not disclosed.
His visit followed a letter written by 21 MLAs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the restoration of an elected government. These MLAs, predominantly from the BJP along with members of the NPP, Naga People’s Front (NPF), and independents, expressed their disappointment with the lack of visible progress under President’s Rule despite initial public support.
In parallel peace efforts, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a first-ever tripartite meeting on April 5 with representatives of the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in New Delhi. Most recently, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the apex Meitei body, reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace following a meeting with MHA officials in the capital on Tuesday.
With IANS inputs