CHURACHANDPUR, MANIPUR — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) North East in-charge Sambit Patra made an unofficial yet politically significant visit to Manipur’s Churachandpur district on May 5, meeting key Kuki MLAs and community leaders amid growing calls for the restoration of a popular government in the state.
Patra flew directly from Imphal to Churachandpur by helicopter and met Thanlon BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte, who remains wheelchair-bound after surviving a brutal mob attack during the ethnic violence in May 2023. Patra enquired about Valte’s health before engaging in a 30-minute closed-door meeting at the MLA’s residence.
Patra also met Churachandpur MLA L M Khaute and interacted with leaders of the Zomi Students’ Federation (ZSF), who submitted a memorandum addressing the concerns of the tribal communities. Additionally, Patra held closed-door discussions with leaders of the Kuki Zo Council (KZC) and the Zomi Council (ZC).
Describing his trip as “unofficial” when approached by reporters, Patra declined to comment on the memorandum or the content of his private meetings.
The visit comes just days after 21 MLAs from Manipur — including 13 from the BJP, three from the NPP, three from the Naga People’s Front, and two independents — submitted letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 29. The legislators urged the Centre to form a “popular government” in the state to restore peace and stability. Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13 following Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s resignation, and the assembly remains under suspended animation.
Patra is expected to return to Imphal later to meet with BJP legislators, sources confirmed. This was his first visit to Manipur since February.
The backdrop to the visit remains tense, with over 260 people having lost their lives in ongoing ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023. Patra’s engagements with Kuki representatives signal the BJP’s intent to recalibrate its outreach in the hill regions as political pressure builds to restore governance in the troubled state.