Meghachandra said Sangma’s trip was a “political manoeuvre” to strengthen the NDA alliance, not a genuine effort to restore peace in the strife-torn state.
BY PC Bureau
October 10: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Keisham Meghachandra Singh on Friday launched a scathing attack on the National People’s Party (NPP), accusing it of playing a “major role” in perpetuating Manipur’s ongoing political and social instability. His remarks come amid Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP national president Conrad K. Sangma’s two-day visit to Manipur, which has been reeling under ethnic violence since May 2023.
Calling Sangma’s visit a “calculated political manoeuvre,” Meghachandra alleged that the trip was aimed at reviving the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s waning influence in Manipur rather than addressing the state’s deepening humanitarian crisis.
In a post on social media platform X, the Congress leader and Wangkhem MLA wrote,
“The National People’s Party has become a close ally and political partner of the BJP. Conrad Sangma’s visit is clearly intended to strengthen the NPP’s organisation in the state and cement its ties with the BJP — an attempt to breathe life into the NDA’s weakened base in Manipur.”
Meghachandra accused both the BJP and NPP of “betraying the people’s trust” by failing to restore peace, justice, or unity in the state. He charged the ruling alliance with misgovernance, corruption, and divisive politics that have pushed Manipur to the brink of collapse.
“Since 2017, the BJP and its ally NPP have played a major role in destroying the stability and spirit of Manipur. Truly, BJP and NPP are two faces of the same coin,” Meghachandra asserted.
The National People’s Party (NPP) has today become a close ally and political partner of the BJP. The recent visit of NPP Chief and Meghalaya Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma to Manipur is nothing but an attempt to strengthen the party organisation and reinforce ties with the… pic.twitter.com/EZzHJ8G5hr
— Keisham Meghachandra Singh (@meghachandra_k) October 10, 2025
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“Years of Misrule Have Broken Manipur”
The Congress president also criticised what he described as the NDA’s failure to protect the state’s territorial and social integrity, noting that despite repeated promises, peace remains elusive and thousands continue to languish in relief camps.
Manipur has been gripped by ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities for over 17 months, leaving more than 260 people dead and displacing tens of thousands from their homes. The prolonged unrest led to the imposition of President’s Rule following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh earlier this year. The state assembly remains under suspended animation, even as its tenure continues until 2027.
Sangma’s Visit and NPP’s Response
During his stay, Sangma held meetings with civil society organisations, internally displaced persons, and Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. He reiterated his party’s commitment to the restoration of peace and normalcy, and advocated for the formation of a democratically elected government at the earliest.
The NPP chief reportedly emphasised the need for “dialogue, inclusivity, and empathy” in rebuilding the fractured state, and assured that his party would play a constructive role in any peace initiative.
However, Meghachandra dismissed these overtures as “political posturing” intended to salvage the NDA’s reputation.
“The people of Manipur have already rejected the BJP-led NDA, whose years of misrule, corruption, and divisive politics have pushed the state into deep unrest,” he said.
“The Congress party stands firmly with the people in their fight to restore democratic values and rebuild the true idea of Manipur.”
Observers say Sangma’s visit is significant at a time when both the BJP and its allies face growing disillusionment among Manipur’s population. The Congress, meanwhile, is attempting to reclaim political ground by positioning itself as the voice of unity and democratic restoration.
As Manipur remains under central rule, the battle for political legitimacy — and the right to rebuild the state’s broken social fabric — appears set to intensify in the months ahead.
