As President's rule nears one year, talks intensify to restore Manipur govt

With Manipur close to completing one year of President's Rule on February 14, there is renewed attempt to restore popular government in the state.

On Saturday, thousands of people from across the valley came together under a single banner and resolution--protection of Manipur's unity and the restoration of peace.

Manipur has been under President's rule since February 13, 2025. The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which, after the promulgation of President rule, has been put under suspended animation, has a tenure till 2027.


"Parleys are on with different groups and leaders, and we are hopeful of installing a popular government very soon," said a senior BJP leader who did not want to be named. "Informal talks and formal talks with different people are going on. Even some talks took place in Guwahati with few organisations."

On December 15 last year, the BJP leadership had discussions with BJP legislators of the state.

BJP MLAs from the Kuki and Meitei communities, for the first time since violence broke out in the state on May 3, 2023, sat together in the discussion with the party's leadership.

The meeting was attended by 34 BJP legislators, including Satyabrata, Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, and former chief minister N Biren Singh. Among the seven BJP MLAs from the Kuki community, Nemcha Kipgen, Ngursanglur Sanate , LM Khaute and Letzamang Haokip participated in the talks.

A senior BJP leader told ET, "Former CM N Biren Singh continues to remain one of the strongest contenders for the chief ministerial post. There are two distinct camps, one backing Singh's return and another siding with Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh."

Recently, Kuki Zo groups have agreed to join the government, provided they get in writing that negotiated political settlement for a Union Territory with legislature under the Constitution will be provided to them.