Acts of political drama without political activities of Manipur’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs and its allies to form a popular government are being played out amidst the President’s rule and people’s movement against the Gwaltabi incident, where a state own Manipur State Transport bus ferrying journalists including reporters of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) was stopped by the 4th Mahar Regiment and forcing them to conceal the “Manipur State Transport” banner from the windscreen of the bus. The incident triggered protests, with Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and other CSOs demanding an apology from the Manipur Governor and calling for the resignation or transfer of the Chief Secretary (CS), Director General of Police (DGP), and the Security Advisor (SA) of the State.
The latest such act was the meeting of the 23 BJP MLAs at the former minister Thongam Biswajit’s official residence at Sanjenthong Officers’ Colony in Imphal East on May 30, 2025.
This follows 10 MLAs’ claim to form a popular government after meeting the Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on May 28, 2025. On Wednesday, a group of 10 MLAs – comprising 8 from the BJP, 1 from the National People’s Party (NPP), and 1 Independent – led by BJP MLA Thokchom Radheshyam met the Governor at Raj Bhavan in Imphal amidst the ongoing civil disobedience movement spearheaded by COCOMI and other CSOs. The delegation submitted their intention to stake claim for forming the government in the state.
Radheshyam, after meeting the Governor, told the press, “Excluding Congress, we have the support of 44 MLAs, and there is no one opposing the formation of a new government in the state. The Speaker of the Assembly, Satyabrata, has already met with 44 MLAs.”
Moreover, Sapam Nishikanta, the independent MLA, told journalists after the team met with the government, “All the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) legislators want a popular government to be installed in the interest of Manipur. We need the support of the people for a smooth government formation,” He also said the team gave the Governor, administering the State on behalf of the Centre since the imposition of the President’s Rule on February 13, a paper signed by 22 MLAs.”
“This is the same paper we gave to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier. The remaining signatories are not here, but we are all in this together. Everybody wants a popular government,” Nishikanta added.
On the other hand, a statement from the Raj Bhavan said the 10 MLAs discussed the law and order, and political situation in the State. “The issues they discussed included, among others, initiating a peace process based on mutual understanding and strengthening security arrangements. Further, they urged the Governor to expedite the formation of a popular government in the State,” the Raj Bhavan’s statement read.
The political development occurred less than a day after former BJP Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren met with the Governor at the Raj Bhavan. After the meeting on May 27 evening, he told journalists that the ongoing unrest in the State figured in the discussion with the Governor.
He also said he had submitted a letter to the Governor, detailing the steps taken during his tenure to identify illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, and addressing the associated challenges.
The political developments have sparked speculations regarding the formation of a popular government in the state. Manipur remains under President’s rule, with its 60-member Legislative Assembly placed under suspended animation since February 13, 2025 following the resignation of Nongthombam Biren as Chief Minister on February 9, 2025.
Another development making the speculations more colourful is the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker, Thokchom Satyabrata’s journey to Delhi in the afternoon of May 28, 2025 reportedly to consult the central leadership to take a final decision on government formation soon. With a total of 60 assembly seats, the magic number to form a majority in the Manipur Assembly is 31, which BJP having 37 members without allies claims to have surpassed with their alliances.
In the latest development, of the 37 BJP MLAs in the 60-Member Manipur Legislative Assembly, at least 23 BJP legislators met on May 31 evening at former minister Thongam Biswajit’s official residence to deliberate on their collective role in restoring peace, stability, and normalcy in the State in the light of the prevailing issues/situation and the deeply distressing developments in Manipur, after which they issued a statement.
They also said that they feel and share the enormous suffering endured by the people of Manipur over the past two years.
“Acknowledging the deep public desire to see the formation of a popular government, we discussed pathways to achieve this with unity and selflessness. We resolved to put aside personal ambitions in the larger interest of the state, its people, and the vision of the BJP and its alliance partners in Manipur,” said the statement issued after the meeting.
The BJP has a total of 37 MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, of whom seven are from the Kuki-Zomi tribes and were not a part of the Friday meeting. While former Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata and BJP MLA of Sagolband Assembly Constituency R K Imo who is Biren’s son in-law were also not part of the meeting.
The statement also stated “As elected representatives, we are united in our firm belief that a long-term solution to the crisis is both possible and necessary. Such a solution must rest on the pillars of political will, inclusive dialogue, constitutional safeguards, and impartial enforcement of law and order. It is our collective conviction that this journey must be undertaken in close cooperation between the Centre, the State, Civil Society, and community leaders.”
“We thoroughly examined mechanisms for inclusive dialogue involving representatives of all communities in Manipur. We strongly support the establishment of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive mediation between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, aimed at building trust and consensus on critical issues,” the statement said.
It also stated that the idea of approaching the Governor or the BJP central leadership to appoint a “neutral peace envoy or a panel of eminent persons, comprising voices from both within and outside Manipur” was proposed in the meeting.
They also emphasise the critical importance of inter-community people-to-people dialogue at the grassroots level, involving local governance institutions, civil society groups, student bodies, and religious organisations. They also believe that this will lay the foundation for healing, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.
During the deliberations, the leaders supported the creation of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive engagement between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. They also discussed the feasibility of formally requesting the appointment of a ‘peace envoy’ or a panel of eminent persons by the Governor and the Centre, to mediate impartially and bridge existing trust deficits.
However, regarding the Gwaltabi incident on May 20, which added fuel to the already burning Manipur, the BJP MLAs failed to condemn the incident in the statement rather they urged the Government to have dialogue with media persons and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to find amicable and honourable understanding. The statement added that they extend their full support for this endeavour.
Meanwhile, according to reports, BJP national leaders, however, downplayed the political development of meeting the Governor on May 28 at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. The visit of the MLAs was more of a courtesy call, and a government is unlikely to be formed soon.
Ten MLAs belonging to Kuki-Zomi tribes of which seven are BJP, two Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) former BJP – former BJP allies and one Independent, also BJP ally have not set foot in Imphal since the violent conflict broke out on May 3, 2023.
Though the BJP national leadership is said to be conscious of the sentiments and frustrations of the MLAs who have been seeking a “popular” government and resumption of the Assembly that is in suspended animation, it is said that the BJP national leadership would not be ready for formation of a new government in Manipur soon.
Therefore, without bringing the 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs at least the seven BJP MLAs on board, the BJP national leaders will not hastily form its government in the State while the President’s Rule prevails.
Before resolving the violent conflict, it is unlikely that President’s Rule would be revoked any time soon until a normalcy comes in the State. It is obvious that the priority for both the Centre and the President’s Rule in Manipur as of now is not government formation but peace, and any political movement and formation of a government without participation of Kuki-Zomi MLAs could derail any peace initiative. And formation of new popular government soon in Manipur without the participation of 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs, or without at least understanding with them, is very remote.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
