BY Navin Upadhyay
New Delhi, June 27, 2026 — With less than a year before Manipur heads to the Assembly polls expected in early 2027, political activity has begun gathering momentum, particularly in the state’s hill districts. Recent engagements between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government and Naga political leaders have fuelled speculation over evolving electoral alignments, even as questions continue to be raised over the handling of security issues involving Naga armed groups amid the state’s continuing ethnic unrest.
A recent meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and a joint delegation of Naga political representatives from Nagaland and Manipur has drawn significant attention in political circles. The delegation was led by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and included Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Losii Dikho, Nagaland Deputy Chief Ministers T.R. Zeliang and Y. Patton, along with senior Naga leaders, including Naga People’s Front (NPF) Manipur president Awangbow Newmai.
According to participants, discussions centred on the long-pending Naga peace process, the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur, and issues affecting Naga-inhabited areas. Those attending the meeting described the interaction as “positive and fruitful,” stating that the Union Home Minister assured the delegation that the Centre remains committed to advancing the peace process while addressing concerns arising from the ongoing conflict in Manipur.
Political Significance Ahead of 2027
The meeting has acquired added political significance as parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 Assembly elections. The BJP, which remains a dominant political force in the Northeast, is widely seen as seeking to consolidate its support among Naga voters and leaders in both Nagaland and Manipur.
The Naga People’s Front (NPF), which continues to wield influence in several hill constituencies of Manipur, is expected to remain an important player in any post-election political arithmetic. Political observers believe closer engagement between the BJP-led Centre and Naga leadership could shape electoral alliances and campaign strategies in the months ahead.
The absence of direct participation by Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh in the high-level discussions has also generated political debate. While no official explanation has been offered, opposition voices and some civil society groups have questioned why issues directly concerning Manipur were discussed primarily with leaders from neighbouring Nagaland and Naga representatives without the Chief Minister taking a central role.
The development has prompted calls for greater transparency regarding the objectives and outcomes of such meetings to avoid speculation over political negotiations and administrative priorities.
Security Concerns Continue
The political outreach comes amid continuing security challenges in Manipur’s hill districts.
Since May 2026, several incidents involving Naga and Kuki-Zo communities have further strained inter-community relations. These include the abduction and killing of six Liangmai Naga civilians from Leilon Vaiphei village following the ambush in which three Kuki-Zo church leaders were killed near Kotlen and Kotzim in Kangpokpi district.
The recovery of the victims’ bodies nearly a month later intensified tensions between the two communities, triggering competing narratives and demands for justice from both Naga and Kuki-Zo organisations.
Civil society groups have repeatedly urged the government to ensure impartial investigations into all incidents of violence, irrespective of the communities involved.
READ: Manipur: KOHUR Flays Muivah’s Remarks on Kuki History
Debate Over Enforcement
Alongside the political developments, concerns have been raised in some quarters regarding the response of security agencies to alleged activities of Naga armed groups operating in parts of the hill districts.
Critics argue that despite reports of abductions, killings, extortion, arson, and intimidation in recent months, there has been limited visible enforcement action against certain Naga insurgent outfits. They contend that an uneven approach to policing risks undermining public confidence and weakening the rule of law.
Security analysts, however, note that operations involving groups covered under ceasefire arrangements require careful coordination between state and central agencies, particularly where ongoing political negotiations intersect with security considerations.
The government has not publicly indicated any change in its policy towards Naga insurgent organisations, maintaining that peace negotiations and law enforcement remain parallel processes.
The meeting of Shri Amit Shah ji with Naga legislators from Nagaland and Manipur, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Nagaland, the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, and others, raises important political questions. If matters concerning Manipur were discussed, people may… pic.twitter.com/Q8dA5EQnNl
— Keisham Meghachandra Singh (@meghachandra_k) June 26, 2026
Balancing Politics and Peace
The BJP now faces the challenge of balancing electoral considerations with the complex ethnic realities of Manipur. While engagement with Naga political leaders is viewed as an important component of the Centre’s broader peace strategy, many observers stress that sustained public confidence will depend on the impartial enforcement of law and accountability for acts of violence committed by any individual or group.
The political outreach assumes added importance when viewed against Manipur’s electoral landscape. The 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly is sharply divided along geographical and demographic lines. Of the 60 Assembly constituencies, 40 are located in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley, while the remaining 20 are spread across the hill districts, with 10 constituencies largely dominated by the Naga population and 10 by the Kuki-Zo community.
Although the BJP has traditionally drawn much of its electoral strength from the Imphal Valley, developments since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023 have significantly altered the state’s political dynamics. The Congress won both the Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections, dealing a major political setback to the BJP in the state.
Political observers believe these changing equations may explain the BJP-led Centre’s renewed engagement with Naga political leaders. According to analysts, the BJP could be seeking to strengthen its ties with Naga parties and legislators ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with the possibility of evolving an understanding or post-poll arrangement that would help prevent the Congress from emerging as the principal beneficiary of anti-incumbency sentiments.
Given the fractured political landscape and the likelihood of a closely contested election, observers say the support of Naga-backed parties—particularly in the hill districts—could prove decisive in government formation if no single party secures a clear majority. In that context, recent meetings between senior BJP leaders and Naga representatives are being viewed not only through the lens of the ongoing peace process but also as part of broader political calculations ahead of the 2027 electoral contest.
