Hours Before Swearing-In, Kuki-Zo MLAs Warned Against Joining Manipur Government
President’s Rule had been imposed on February 13, 2025 following the resignation of N Biren Singh’s government. The state assembly, which has its tenure till 2027, was under suspended animation which was revoked on Wednesday with the formation of the new government.
Guwahati: In a significant development, hours before the swearing in of a Manipur government led by chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) warned legislators of its Kuki community against joining the state government without written assurances on their political demands of separate administrative territory.
In a press release, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) reiterated that any Kuki-Zo MLA who participates in government formation against the collective decision of the community will do so in their individual capacity, and the Council will not be held responsible for any consequences arising from their unilateral action.
The warning of the apex civil society group of the Kuki-Zo came hours before the swearing in of the BJP-led government after nearly a year of President’s Rule in the state. The Council reaffirmed its resolution from the January 13 “Lungthu Meeting” in Guwahati, where Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups, Kuki-Zo Council members, and Kuki-Zo MLAs had unanimously decided that the community would not participate in government formation unless the state and Central governments provide them a written assurances committing to the creation of a Union Territory with a legislature for the Kuki-Zo people.
“The Kuki-Zo people have been forcibly separated and subjected to atrocities. It is neither logical nor acceptable for us to join a government formed with those from whom we have been violently separated,” the KZC statement said.
Meanwhile, Mr Khemchand Singh, elected BJP legislature party leader on Wednesday, arrived in Imphal and met Governor Ajay Bhalla at Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form a BJP-led NDA government. Senior leaders, including two Kuki-Zo MLAs, L M Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate accompanied him, marking the first engagement of legislators from the community with the state government process since the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur.
Mr Nemcha Kipgen (BJP) and Losii Dikho (Naga People’s Front) are set to be sworn in as deputy chief ministers, while senior BJP leader Govindas Konthoujam is expected to be sworn in as home minister.
President’s Rule had been imposed on February 13, 2025 following the resignation of N Biren Singh’s government. The state assembly, which has its tenure till 2027, was under suspended animation which was revoked on Wednesday with the formation of the new government.