The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is taking steps toward forming a government in Manipur, where President's Rule is currently in effect. The BJP Parliamentary Board appointed Tarun Chugh, the party's National General Secretary, as the Central Observer for the election of the legislature party leader in Manipur. This decision indicates that the BJP is preparing to reinstate an elected government in the state.
The announcement comes as the current spell of President's Rule, imposed on February 13, 2025, is nearing its end. It was extended in August 2025 for another six months. President's Rule was initially imposed after the BJP-led NDA government, headed by then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, resigned on February 9, 2025. The resignation occurred in the wake of widespread ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities that erupted in May 2023. This conflict resulted in over 260 deaths and displaced thousands, leading to criticism of the Singh government's handling of the situation.
In anticipation of forming a government, the BJP central leadership summoned legislators from Manipur's ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to New Delhi for discussions. Senior leaders and legislators, including BJP's Manipur unit chief A Sharda Devi, former Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Assembly Speaker Satyabrata Singh, and former minister Y Khemchand Singh, were among those who arrived in the national capital. The legislators are expected to meet with senior BJP leaders to discuss the political situation in Manipur. The BJP leadership will then decide whether to form a party-led government or extend President's Rule.
The Manipur Assembly has been under suspended animation since the imposition of President's Rule. The assembly's term is set to last until 2027. In the 60-member Assembly, the BJP holds 37 seats. Their NDA allies, the National People's Party (NPP) and Naga People's Front (NPF), have six and five members, respectively. The Congress also has five MLAs, the Kuki People's Alliance has two, and the JD(U) has one. There are also three independent members. The NPP, NPF, JD(U), and the three independents are all partners with the BJP in the NDA.
Ten Kuki-Zo tribal MLAs, including seven from the BJP, have been demanding a separate administration or a Union Territory for tribals in Manipur. These MLAs had refrained from attending assembly sessions following the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023. On August 6, 2023, the Kuki People's Alliance withdrew its support from the N. Biren Singh government.
If a new government isn't formed soon, a resolution will need to be passed in both houses of Parliament to extend President's Rule. Following the imposition of President's Rule, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla took steps to restore peace, including urging those who had looted arms to surrender them.