Nearing one year of President’s Rule in Manipur, BJP MLAs and alliance partners called to Delhi for meeting

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership has asked all its legislators as well as alliance partners from Manipur to be present in Delhi for a crucial meeting on Monday (February 2, 2026).

Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from both Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities were headed to New Delhi to attend the meeting, two MLAs confirmed to The Hindu. One of the MLAs said they received a call from Sambit Patra, BJP in-charge for Manipur, to be present in the national capital on February 2 by 2 p.m.

Also Read | Centre moves to restore popular govt. in Manipur, holds review meets

Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh told The Hindu that he was on his way to Delhi to attend the meeting with the central leadership.

According to a PTI report, Manipur BJP president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi told reporters at Imphal airport: “All NDA legislators have been called. We are hoping and believing that a popular government will be formed.”

The alliance partners — National People’s Party (NPP) and Naga People’s Front (NPF) leaders — are also likely to attend the meeting on Monday (February 2, 2026).

Amid the call for the meeting, the security forces deployed in the ethnic strife-hit northeastern State were learnt to be requisitioning additional forces to handle any law-and-order situation that may emerge in the next few days.

President’s Rule in Manipur will complete a year on February 13 and over the past one-month, the Union Home Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has held several meetings to explore the possibility of restoration of a popular government in Manipur.

Also Read | ‘Chaos may happen’ if Kuki-Zo MLAs join Manipur govt., says KZC chairman

The Manipur Assembly was placed under suspended animation on February 13, 2025 following the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. President’s Rule, initially imposed for a period of six months, was extended for another six months on August 19, 2025 after taking the concurrence of the Parliament.

Government sources said that talks are on with the Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga MLAs to form the government with participation from all the three communities.

The Kuki Zo Council (KZC), a conglomerate of civil society organisations of the tribal Kuki-Zo-Hmar community, has opposed the MLAs joining the popular government in Manipur till the demands for a separate administration, that is, Union Territory with a legislative assembly is not met.

Meitei civil society groups have opposed any changes in territorial integrity of the State.

On January 2 and 5, two security review meetings were chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, respectively.

Also Read | Kuki-Zo groups agree to join Manipur government with conditions

On January 16, Mr. Shah met Mr. Singh in New Delhi where the talks centred around a “conducive environment” and “ironing out complexities” before the popular government could be restored in the Northeastern State.

Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023 between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo people, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 250 people.