IMPHAL — In a significant political development in Manipur, BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam Singh announced that forty-four MLAs are prepared to form a new government, offering a potential path forward for the violence-torn state currently under Governor’s Rule. The declaration followed a delegation of ten MLAs, including Singh, meeting with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan to formally convey their position.
Singh stated that the group of legislators had submitted their readiness to the Governor, expressing that their collective decision stems from public demand and the urgency to restore governance. “We have informed the Governor that 44 MLAs are ready to form a government. The people are facing too much hardship, and we cannot afford more delay,” Singh told reporters after the meeting. He emphasized that while a formal claim has yet to be staked, notifying the Governor of their preparedness is tantamount to signaling intent. According to him, Speaker Th Satyabrata has already met the MLAs concerned, both individually and as a group, and none have objected to the move.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, following the resignation of BJP Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who stepped down amid mounting criticism over his administration’s handling of prolonged ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities. These tensions, which erupted in May 2023, have since claimed more than 250 lives and displaced thousands, pushing the state into a prolonged phase of instability and violence.
The current composition of the 60-member Manipur Assembly includes 59 sitting members, with one seat left vacant due to the death of a legislator. Within the BJP-led coalition, there are 32 Meitei MLAs, three Manipuri Muslim legislators, and nine Naga representatives—together making up the 44-member bloc that Singh says is ready to assume leadership. In contrast, the Congress holds five seats, all Meiteis, while the remaining ten MLAs are Kukis—seven of whom were elected on BJP tickets, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance, and one as an Independent.
The announcement comes at a volatile moment, as fresh unrest brews in the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley. Protests erupted after an incident on May 20 in Gwaltabi, where security forces were accused of concealing the state’s name on a government bus’s windshield. The act was perceived as a symbolic erasure of Manipur’s identity, triggering widespread outrage among Meitei groups. Protesters are now demanding an official apology from the Governor and the resignation of key state officials, including the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and the Security Advisor.
These renewed tensions threaten to unravel recent attempts by the Centre to de-escalate the conflict. While efforts have been underway to steer the state back toward peace, divisions remain stark. Meitei organizations continue to insist that Manipur’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable, whereas Kuki-Zo groups remain steadfast in their demand for a separate administration in the hill districts they predominantly inhabit.
In the face of these challenges, the willingness of 44 MLAs to form a government has sparked new debate over whether a stable political solution can be achieved. Singh maintained that the final call lies with the BJP’s central leadership, but underscored the urgency of re-establishing governance to mitigate the suffering of the public. As Manipur teeters between political transition and persistent unrest, the days ahead may prove critical in shaping the state’s immediate future.
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