No Kuki-Meiti consensus on CM, uncertainty prevails in Manipur

Guwahati: Uncertainty lingers in Manipur over the choice of the next chief minister as a consensus candidate who is acceptable to the Kuki and Meitei communities is yet to emerge even as extensive deliberations are being held by senior BJP leaders. The fact that the Manipur governor has declared the order to convene the state assembly on January 24 "null and void" has further complicated matters as the six-month mandatory gap to convene a new assembly session is about to expire, landing the state in further political uncertainty.

Marathon meetings are taking place where BJP's Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra held talks with ministers, MLAs and BJP leaders to take their views. On Tuesday, Patra met leaders of Naga People's Front (NPF), a BJP ally, especially with NPF minister Awangbow Newmai. Patra, along with state unit president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi and other MLAs met the Governor in Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. Before meeting the Governor, they met caretaker CM N Biren Singh.

There are several contenders for the CM's post. A senior BJP leader who did not want to be named said, "State Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh and Municipal Administrations, Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD) Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh are vying for the chief minister's post". He said two ministers Th. Biswajit and Govindas Konthoujam were also in the race. The party is trying to choose a leader who is acceptable by tribals -- Kuki-Zo-Hmar and Naga and majority non-tribal Meitei communities. However, there is yet to be a consensus on the matter."


After almost eight years in office, Nongthombam Biren Singh resigned from the post of CM on Sunday triggering search for a new CM.

On Sunday, the Manipur Governor ordered that the previous orders (dated 24 January 2025) to summon Manipur Legislative Assembly's Session, which is yet to commence, 'null and void' with immediate effect.

Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Keisham Meghachandra Singh stated on X, "The order issued by Hon'ble Governor of Manipur dated 9th February 2025 , thereby declaring the order dated 24th January 2025 as 'null and void' is illegal and unconstitutional. There is no move to summon the Assembly Session even if today is the last day for a constitutionally mandated sitting of Manipur Legislative Assembly. Constitutional crisis will be faced after a few hours in Manipur."