new delhi, Oct 9
Adelegation of around 25 BJP MLAs from Manipur, including former chief minister N Biren Singh and the speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, met BJP North East Coordinator Sambit Patra in New Delhi on Wednesday to press for the immediate restoration of an elected government in the strife-torn state.
The meeting, held at Manipur Bhawan, came amid growing anxiety among state legislators who have been camping in the national capital since October 4, seeking clarity from the party’s central leadership on the political future of the state.
The legislators reportedly conveyed that if the Centre was unable to form a government soon, the Manipur Legislative Assembly should be dissolved to pave the way for fresh elections.
According to party insiders, the legislators emphasized that prolonged President’s rule has deepened administrative paralysis and weakened people’s confidence in democratic institutions.
Responding to the delegation, Sambit Patra urged the MLAs to build a political consensus among the Meitei, Naga, and Kuki legislators, stressing that any move to form a new government must reflect an inclusive approach that ensures peace and stability.
Patra reportedly assured the delegation that the Centre is committed to restoring a popular government before the current President’s Rule expires in February 2026.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh amid the continuing ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that erupted in May 2023. The Central government had extended the President’s rule for another six months from August 13, 2025, citing the volatile situation and incomplete rehabilitation of displaced persons.
During the meeting, some MLAs expressed disappointment over not being granted appointments with Union Home Minister Amit Shah or BJP National President J.P. Nadda, despite repeated requests. Patra, however, assured them that consultations with senior party leaders would be arranged after the Bihar Assembly elections, hinting that further political decisions might follow later this year.
The political uncertainty in Manipur began after months of ethnic unrest led to the collapse of N Biren Singh’s BJP government in February 2025. Since then, the state has been governed directly by the Centre, with security forces overseeing law and order in coordination with the Union Home Ministry. Despite relative calm in recent months, Manipur remains deeply divided along ethnic lines, with over 60,000 people displaced and hundreds of villages destroyed since the violence began.
