BJP pushes for government formation as Manipur marks one year under President’s Rule

New Delhi: With a few weeks left for the completion of a year of President’s Rule in strife-torn Manipur, the BJP is making a bid to form a government in the state, sources said. President’s Rule was imposed in the state on February 13, 2025. The party is keen to form a government in the state within a year of that.

Sources in the party said that some of the state’s legislators were in the Capital as part of the development. Former chief minister Biren Singh had a meeting with union home minister Amit Shah last week. Following that, some of the state’s legislators are in Delhi to make representations to the party high command, in addition to Biren and state president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi.

“We cannot say that peach has returned to the state completely, but there is some amount of normalcy. The BJP at the Centre is keen on forming a government, and they will take the views from all quarters to make an informed decision,” a BJP legislator said.

This is the second such meeting; in December, too, the party high command had held talks with the legislators. But sources said a breakthrough might be in sight – last week, the union government held talks with Kuki representatives. Members of the United People’s Front and the Kuki National Organisation have indicated that they will be part of the government if a Union Territory is promised in the Kuki-Zo areas, administered by the Centre.

While there is buzz that Kuki legislator Dipu Gangmei could be the chief ministerial face, there is stiff opposition to it from Meitei lawmakers. The BJP, sources said, is keen on a Meitei face. However, they are unlikely to pass the baton back to N Biren Singh.

The recent murder of a Meitei man who was travelling to Kuki areas to meet his Kuki wife has turned matters sour, sources said. “The video of his death has gone viral, and it has the potential to flame ethic violence. So, we are all keeping a watch,” the leader quoted above said.

Ethnic violence in the state, which broke out in May 2023, between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities, has left 258 people dead and displaced 60,000.