IMPHAL, June 12: The central government is focused on fostering reconciliation between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur, rather than rushing to form a new government in the violence-hit state, BJP sources revealed on Wednesday.
Sources within the party emphasized that addressing the deep-rooted ethnic conflict, which has plagued the northeastern state for over two years, takes precedence over any immediate political changes. This effectively rules out the lifting of President’s Rule in the near future.
The 60-member Manipur Assembly remains in suspended animation, with 59 active members following the death of one legislator. The BJP-led coalition holds 44 MLAs, and while calls have emerged from some within the party to form a new government, the central leadership appears cautious.
Last month, BJP MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, along with nine other legislators, met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and claimed that a majority of MLAs were ready to form a government. However, the final decision, he noted, rests with the BJP’s national leadership.
Despite the push from certain sections, BJP leaders reiterated that reconciliation between the state’s largest communities — the Meiteis and Kuki-Zos — remains the Centre’s top priority. The communities have been locked in a violent ethnic conflict since May 2023, which has claimed over 250 lives and led to widespread displacement and destruction.
While Meitei groups insist on maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur, Kuki-Zo groups have demanded a separate administrative setup for the hill districts they inhabit. This divide has stalled political progress and hindered peace efforts.
The Centre continues to facilitate dialogue and negotiations aimed at addressing community grievances and restoring peace in the region. Government sources maintain that political stability can only follow after a sustainable resolution to the ethnic tensions is achieved.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amid mounting criticism over the state government’s failure to contain the violence.
(PTI)
