The BJP legislature party meeting, overseen by Central Observer Tarun Chugh, is expected to formally ratify the leadership choice already finalized by the party high command after extensive consultations in Delhi.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, February 3, 2026 — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold a crucial legislative party meeting in Imphal on Tuesday at 3 pm to elect a new leader, paving the way for the formation of an elected government in Manipur after nearly a year of President’s Rule.
According to party sources, the meeting will be attended by BJP legislators and leaders of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners, including the National People’s Party (NPP) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF). The newly elected leader is expected to take oath as Chief Minister shortly thereafter.
The meeting will be overseen by BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, who has been appointed as the Central Observer by the party high command. Sources said the Centre has already finalized the leadership choice after extensive consultations, taking into account the complex political and ethnic situation in the state. The decision is expected to be formally ratified at the meeting.
READ: BJP Moves to Restore Elected Government in Manipur
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, following the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amid prolonged ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. With the current term of President’s Rule set to expire on February 12, the BJP is under constitutional and political pressure to restore an elected government.
However, political uncertainty persists, with sources indicating that five of the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs are expected to resign from the Manipur Legislative Assembly in protest against the formation of a new government without explicit assurances on their long-standing demand for a separate Union Territory for Kuki-Zo-dominated hill areas.
There are ten Kuki-Zo MLAs in the Assembly — seven from the BJP, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA), and one Independent. The KPA had withdrawn its support from the BJP-led Manipur government in August 2023, citing dissatisfaction over the handling of the ethnic crisis.
Sources, however, said that three Kuki-Zo legislators could break ranks and extend support to the new government, potentially defying prevailing community sentiment amid intense political negotiations.
Over the past few days, intense political activity has been underway, with several BJP MLAs and NDA allies summoned to New Delhi for consultations. Party leaders have expressed cautious optimism about forming a stable government, although challenges remain due to lingering ethnic tensions and deep political divisions.
The BJP holds 37 seats in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, while its allies NPP and NPF together account for 11 seats, giving the NDA a comfortable numerical majority. However, internal consensus and coalition management remain critical in the volatile political environment.
Tuesday’s meeting is expected to be decisive for Manipur’s political future, potentially marking the end of central rule and the restoration of democratic governance in the northeastern state.
