N Biren Singh greets the newly-sworn Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
Credit: PTI Photo
Guwahati: Amid efforts to decide Biren Singh's replacement as Manipur CM, the Centre has resumed efforts to bring both the Meitei and the Kuki communities to the negotiating tables for finding an end to the conflict.
Sources in Manipur told DH on Monday that BJP's in-charge of the state, Sambit Patra contacted the BJP MLAs belonging to the Kuki communities amid his meetings with legislators in Imphal for deciding the next Chief Minister.
Patra also held separate meetings with MLAs, the Centre's security in-charge Kuldiep Singh and Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla for finding a solution to the conflict.
Ten Kuki MLAs including seven belonging to BJP have maintained a distance from the Valley and the Assembly after the violence erupted in May 2023. But BJP leadership on Monday told the Kuki BJP MLAs to visit New Delhi for a meeting on Wednesday.
"The Kuki MLAs are likely to make their stand clear tomorrow after getting an official invitation for talks," a source said. The Kuki MLAs had earlier refused to have a joint meeting with their Meitei counterparts in New Delhi with a few demanding Biren Singh's removal.
After his meeting with Patra in Imphal, Y. Khemchand, senior BJP minister, who is also one of the contenders for the CM's post, told reporters on Monday that Patra discussed how to find a solution to the conflict. "I will follow whatever decision is taken by the high command in finding a solution and restore peace," he said.
Committee on Tribal Unity, a Kuki Zo organisation on Monday, however, stated that keeping the Assembly under suspended animation or the President's Rule would be a shortsighted political discourse. It said the Centre should take steps for granting a Union Territory for the minority Kuki communities for finding a long-term solution to conflict.
Congress MP from Inner Manipur, Bimol Akoijam said Manipur needs a "responsible government." "The people of Manipur deserve a government that can effectively manage the crisis and put an end to the ongoing statelessness. We have always called for a government that is accountable, and that is what we expect moving forward," he said.
More than 250 people have died and over 60,000 others have been displaced since the Meitei-Kuki conflict that began in May 2023. The state has remained physically divided with the Meiteis and Kukis not visiting each other's areas fearing fresh violence and organisations have remained firm on their demands.
Congress MP from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi said if the Centre is serious about finding a solution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should visit Manipur as desired by various quarters.