Both MLAs skipped the recent Guwahati Kuki-Zo conclave, raising speculation about a split in the community’s unified stance on the Union Territory demand.
BY PC Bureau
Two Kuki-Zo MLAs are reportedly in discussions with BJP leadership about joining the state government once President’s Rule is lifted, sources said. Ngursanglur Sanate and LM Khaute may be offered ministerial positions if they break ranks with their community colleagues and support the new government, sources said.
Notably, both MLAs skipped the recent Guwahati conclave, which saw the participation of six out of ten Kuki-Zo MLAs. Two others were absent due to illness. Their non-participation in the high-profile meeting, attended by key community decision-makers, has fueled speculation about their intentions.
Sources said the Guwahati conclave deliberated that the MLAs could consider joining the government if the Centre provided explicit assurances that their demand for a Union Territory with a legislature would be seriously considered. In the absence of such guarantees, most participants agreed that the MLAs would likely refrain from government formation. A formal decision is expected soon after wider consultations.
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The MLAs present at the conclave were Haokholet Kipgen, Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, Letzamang Haokip, Chinlunthang, Paolienlal Haokip, and Nemcha Kipgen.
Ngursanglur Sanate and LM Khaute are influential voices within their community. Their decisions carry weight, both politically and socially. If they join the government, it would signal a split in the Kuki-Zo bloc, weakening the community’s collective bargaining power.
Ngursanglur Sanate, MLA from Tipaimukh constituency, has emerged as a prominent voice in the Kuki-Zo (specifically Kuki-Zomi-Hmar) community. Belonging to the Hmar tribe, he was elected to the Manipur Assembly in 2022 and has consistently emphasized the use of “Kuki-Zomi-Hmar” over the more generic “Kuki-Zo” label.
Sanate has advocated for inclusive representation of tribal communities and, in May 2023, joined nine other tribal MLAs in submitting a memorandum seeking a separate administration for tribal areas, citing long-standing grievances of displacement and erosion of trust. In August 2024, he participated in urging the Centre to reconsider decisions affecting tribal security, including the withdrawal of certain Assam Rifles units.
On the other hand, LM Khaute, MLA from Churachandpur, is a retired Manipur DGP who entered politics on a JD(U) ticket, winning the 2022 Assembly election after voluntary retirement. An IPS officer of the 1985 batch, he served in senior roles including Additional Director General (Armed Police) and DGP, gaining a reputation for administrative and counter-insurgency expertise.
Since the outbreak of ethnic conflict in May 2023, Khaute has consistently supported the demand for a separate administration, citing an “irreparable” trust deficit between communities. Though low-profile publicly, he remains influential in high-level deliberations on security, displacement, and governance in tribal districts.
Clarifications and Denials
Two other Kuki-Zo MLAs, Haokholet Kipgen and Chinlunthang, issued a joint clarification denying media reports that claimed the community had agreed to join a “popular Ministry” in Manipur. The legislators described the reports as “misleading,” asserting that the conclave focused primarily on the community’s political future and ongoing conflict. They reiterated that the demand for a Union Territory with legislature remains their principal objective, with no commitment made to join a government under current circumstances.
The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) also dismissed the reports, calling them “baseless” and “fabricated.” While the possibility of a popular Ministry was “mentioned informally,” it neither formed the core agenda nor resulted in any resolution, they stated. The demand for a Union Territory dominated discussions.
