In a joint press release, the UPF and KNO said no commitment was made by any MLA to be part of a future Ministry, stressing that discussions at the Kuki-Zo Council meet centred solely on constitutional redressal and the UT demand.
PC Bureau | November 17, 2025
Kuki-Zo MLAs and representative organisations on Sunday issued two separate clarifications, firmly denying a media report that claimed their legislators had agreed to join the formation of a “popular Ministry” in Manipur.
A clarification signed by two Kuki-Zo MLAs– Haokholet Kipgen and Chinlunthang– said that no decision was taken at the recently-concluded Guwahati conclave to support or join any future government formation. The legislators described the media report as “misleading” and insisted that the meeting focused primarily on the community’s political future and the ongoing conflict.
They reiterated that the demand for a Union Territory with Legislature remains their principal political objective and that no commitment was made to participate in a Ministry under the prevailing circumstances.
READ: Kuki-Zo Meet Reasserts UT Demand, Unveils Political Strategy
KNO–UPF Issue Separate Statement
In an independent release, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) also dismissed the report, calling it “baseless” and “fabricated”. The armed groups, which operate under the Suspension of Operations agreement, stated that the claim did not reflect the proceedings of the conclave.
Their statement said that while the subject of a possible popular Ministry was “mentioned informally,” it neither formed the core agenda nor resulted in any resolution. They asserted that the UT demand overshadowed all other discussions.
UT Demand Dominates Conclave
The two-day conclave, held under the aegis of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), spent most of its deliberations on the community’s long-standing political aspiration for a Union Territory with Legislature. Participants stressed that the demand remains “non-negotiable” and must be addressed by the Government of India before any conversation on government formation can be entertained.
Six MLAs Present, Four Absent
Six of the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs—Haokholet Kipgen, Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, Letzamang Haokip, Chinlunthang, Paolienlal Haokip, and Nemcha Kipgen—attended the conclave. Two others, Letpao Haokip and Vungzagin Valte, stayed away due to health reasons. Hmar MLA Ngursanglur Sanate and Zomi MLA LM Khaute did not provide reasons for their absence.
Appeal for Responsible Reporting
Both the MLAs and the KNO–UPF urged the media to avoid speculative reporting at a sensitive time for the conflict-hit region. The conclave concluded with the adoption of the Nampi Conclave Declaration, which outlines the consolidated political and organisational roadmap of the Kuki-Zo people.
Kuki-Zo organisations have strongly denied media reports claiming that the community’s MLAs have agreed to join the formation of a “popular Ministry” in Manipur. The United People’s Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) issued a joint clarification on Sunday, calling the reports “fabricated” and a “gross misrepresentation” of the community’s political stance.
“We strongly and unequivocally refute the news report alleging that Kuki-Zo MLAs have decided to join the formation of a popular Ministry. No such decision was taken, nor was any commitment made to be part of any future government formation,” the statement said.
The clarification followed a general conference of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) held on November 15, which discussed critical political issues, including the community’s core demand for a Union Territory with Legislature.
According to the joint release, the UT demand—not government formation—dominated the deliberations.
“The conference focused primarily on the urgent and overriding demand for a Union Territory with Legislature. No resolution was passed committing Kuki-Zo MLAs to join any popular government,” the organisations stated.
The press note acknowledged that the possibility of reviving a popular Ministry did come up but emphasised that nothing was decided.
“The question of joining a Ministry was debated at length. Many representatives strongly asserted that Kuki-Zo MLAs should not join any popular Ministry until the Government of India provides an unequivocal statement regarding the objective for a UT with Legislature,” the release added.
It also accused the media report of distorting the outcome of the discussions.
“The report’s claim that ‘it was agreed that the Kuki-Zo MLAs should join any popular Ministry’ is a complete fabrication and a gross misrepresentation of the proceedings,” the statement said.
The organisations reiterated that the political aspiration of the Kuki-Zo people remains unchanged.
“The Kuki-Zo MLAs and the collective Kuki-Zo leadership remain fully committed to the demand for a Union Territory with Legislature as their foremost and non-negotiable political priority.”
Incidentally, the KZC has issued no clarification in this matter.
