While the Centre pursues long-term peace, civil groups and political leaders push for a return to democracy. Arrests rise, weapons are surrendered—but trust remains the missing piece.
BY PC Bureau
The Centre is in no rush to replace President’s Rule in Manipur with an elected government, pending tangible progress on the ground through the ongoing peace talks initiated by the Union Home Ministry.
According to sources, despite growing demands from certain civil society groups and BJP MLAs to revoke President’s Rule, the Centre remains committed to the path it has chosen to ensure long-term peace in the conflict-ridden state.
Another round of peace talks is expected to be held in Delhi soon, aimed at bringing both warring sides to the table under a mutually agreeable framework. “It’s a complex situation. No solution can be found overnight. We need time, and President’s Rule gives us that buffer,” said a senior official.
The official noted that a significant number of weapons have already been surrendered. However, much work remains in disarming militant groups and armed civil society organisations who have taken up arms in the name of self-defence.
“To achieve lasting peace in the region, we need to recover all weapons,” he said. “The Governor is taking steps, and we hope these efforts will yield results.”
On the political front also, the situation is not favourable for installing the elected government. Within the BJP, there is also no consensus on who should succeed N. Biren Singh as Chief Minister. “We cannot install a leader who might soon face dissent. It’s more prudent to let President’s Rule continue for now,” a party insider said.
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Since the imposition of President’s Rule, nearly 200 militants from outfits such as the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People’s Liberation Army (PLA), PREPAK, KYKL, Kuki National Army (KNA), and United National Kuki Army (UNKA) have either been arrested or surrendered. Of these, around 50 were apprehended in February, 125 in March, and over two dozen so far in April.
“These arrests are expected to have a sobering effect in the long term,” the official added. “We must maintain this momentum and intensify efforts to disarm both militants and armed civil groups. The tribal population currently lacks faith in the Meitei-led state administration. We need to restore that trust before transitioning back to an elected government.”
Meanwhile, seven BJP MLAs led by former Works and Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Thursday evening. The legislators raised several public concerns and demanded restoration of a BJP-led government.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. With the state assembly in suspended animation, the possibility of forming a new government remains open.
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Pressure on MLAs has increased after the People’s Progressive Alliance Manipur (PPAM) issued a seven-day ultimatum earlier this week. On Tuesday, PPAM leader Thokchom Sujata called on all MLAs to clarify their stance on forming a new government, warning that inaction would lead to a public signature campaign demanding political accountability.
Adding to the pressure, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent Meitei civil society group, voiced strong dissatisfaction with the ongoing President’s Rule. At a press conference on Wednesday, COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba stated that the situation on the ground has shown little improvement, and called on MLAs to take responsibility or resign to pave the way for fresh elections.
“We never supported President’s Rule. When it was imposed, the people hoped for swift and decisive action from the Centre. But what we see is continued defiance from Kuki organisations and armed groups,” said Athouba.
He pointed to recent developments—such as armed groups refusing to surrender weapons and opposition to reopening key highways—as signs that the Centre is failing to manage the emergency effectively.
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“The expectation was that hostile areas would be cleared and normalcy restored within two to three months, after which a civilian administration would resume. That has not happened,” Athouba said.
He criticised state legislators for failing to form a government during a time of crisis.
“If MLAs cannot unite to choose a leader and form a government, they should step down and let the public elect new representatives. The people of Manipur deserve decisive action—not silence,” he declared.
Athouba urged elected representatives to act in accordance with the will of the people, rather than waiting for directions from New Delhi.
