Following nearly a year of presidential rule, political maneuvers are intensifying in the northeastern state of Manipur as efforts to form a government gain momentum. Today (Tuesday) at noon, all BJP MLAs gathered at the Manipur Bhavan, with discussions focused on electing a new leader of the legislative party. While initial reports suggested only two contenders, the number has now surged to six, highlighting a significant shift in the political landscape.
The backdrop to this political activity is the violence and unrest that has plagued Manipur for a year and a half, beginning on May 3, 2023, due to clashes between the Moitei and Kuki communities. Over 260 lives have been lost, and more than 60,000 people have been displaced as a result of the ongoing turmoil. Despite demands for the Chief Minister to resign, no such resignation occurred until Biren Singh stepped down from his position on February 13, 2025, leading to the continuation of presidential rule in the state.
In the interim, attempts by BJP legislators to elect a new leader have not progressed, prompting the national general secretary Tarun Chugh to take charge of the situation. A parliamentary board meeting on Monday assigned Chugh the responsibility of navigating the party through these turbulent waters. Prior to this, several BJP and allied party MLAs had traveled to Delhi, where speculation about government formation intensified following meetings involving BJP Manipur President Sharda Devi and other leaders.
If all goes smoothly, indications suggest that the formation of a government could be imminent, potentially occurring today or tomorrow. Adding to the intrigue, Manipur is set to hold assembly elections next year, making the establishment of a government a priority for the NDA coalition. Currently, the BJP holds 37 MLAs, while its allies, the NPP and NPF, have six and five MLAs, respectively. The Congress party has five MLAs, making the political stakes exceptionally high.
Given the unrest that has captured national attention, the BJP is treating the upcoming elections as a prestigious challenge. Party leadership aims to create a comprehensive government that represents key factions from both hilly and valley regions. However, the Kuki community’s MLAs are posing obstacles to government formation. There are ten Kuki MLAs in the Manipur assembly, seven of whom belong to the BJP. On January 13, this faction convened a meeting with Kuki organizations in Guwahati, demanding special administrative status, further complicating the situation.
As the announcement for government formation looms, the Kuki faction is now seeking written assurances. While the BJP has taken the first step toward re-establishing governance in Manipur, the challenge lies in addressing the Kuki community’s demands to avoid further complications.
Initially, the race for the Chief Minister’s position seemed limited to two names: Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrat Singh and Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh. However, the list has unexpectedly expanded to six contenders. The candidates in the fray include Thokchom Satyabrat Singh, the current Speaker and MLA from the Yaiskul constituency; Thongam Biswajit Singh, who has served as an MLA since 2012 and held various ministerial roles; Yumkham Khemchand Singh, an MLA from the Singjamei constituency; Govindas Kantaoujam, an MLA from Bishnupur; Thounaojam Basant Kumar Singh, a four-term MLA; and Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, a retired IPS officer and current MLA from the Hirom constituency.
Overall, the BJP is poised to select one of these six individuals as the new Chief Minister, with a resolution expected within this week, bringing a thrilling chapter of political uncertainty to a close.
