Hours Before Swearing-In, Kuki-Zo MLAs Warned Against Joining Manipur Government
4 Feb 2026 7:42 PM IST4 Feb 2026 7:42 PM IST
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 The state assembly, which has its tenure till 2027, was under suspended animation which was revoked on Wednesday with the formation of the new government.
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. (Photo: X)
Guwahati: Hours before the swearing-in of a new Manipur government led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) on Wednesday warned legislators from the Kuki-Zo community against joining the government without written assurances on their political demands.
In a statement, the KZC said any Kuki-Zo MLA participating in the government formation in violation of the collective decision of the community would do so in an individual capacity, and the council would not be responsible for the consequences of such action.
The warning came ahead of the swearing-in of the BJP-led government, following nearly a year of President’s Rule in the state. The council reiterated its resolution adopted at the January 13 “Lungthu Meeting” in Guwahati, attended by Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups, Kuki-Zo Council members and Kuki-Zo MLAs. The resolution stated that the community would not join any government unless the State and Central governments provide 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 council said.
Meanwhile, Khemchand Singh, who was elected BJP legislature party leader earlier in the day, arrived in Imphal and met Governor Ajay Bhalla at Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form a BJP-led NDA government. He was accompanied by senior party leaders, including two Kuki-Zo MLAs — L.M. Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate — marking the first engagement of legislators from the community in the government formation process since the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur.
Nemcha Kipgen of the BJP and Losii Dikho of the Naga People’s Front are set to be sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers, while senior BJP leader Govindas Konthoujam is expected to take charge as Home Minister.
President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of the N. Biren Singh government. The State Assembly, whose term runs till 2027, had been kept under suspended animation, which was revoked on Wednesday with the formation of the new government.
The warning came ahead of the swearing-in of the BJP-led government, following nearly a year of President’s Rule in the state. The council reiterated its resolution adopted at the January 13 “Lungthu Meeting” in Guwahati, attended by Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups, Kuki-Zo Council members and Kuki-Zo MLAs. The resolution stated that the community would not join any government unless the State and Central governments provide 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 council said.
Meanwhile, Khemchand Singh, who was elected BJP legislature party leader earlier in the day, arrived in Imphal and met Governor Ajay Bhalla at Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form a BJP-led NDA government. He was accompanied by senior party leaders, including two Kuki-Zo MLAs — L.M. Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate — marking the first engagement of legislators from the community in the government formation process since the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur.
Nemcha Kipgen of the BJP and Losii Dikho of the Naga People’s Front are set to be sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers, while senior BJP leader Govindas Konthoujam is expected to take charge as Home Minister.
President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of the N. Biren Singh government. The State Assembly, whose term runs till 2027, had been kept under suspended animation, which was revoked on Wednesday with the formation of the new government.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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