NPP’s Role: With seven seats in the 60-member Assembly, NPP emerges as a key player in shaping Manipur’s next government.
PC Bureau
October 9: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma is set for a high-stakes, two-day visit to Manipur starting today, as the state continues to navigate turbulent political waters under President’s Rule since February 2025.
Manipur has been grappling with instability following the resignation of former Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh on February 9 amid persistent unrest. Sangma’s visit is widely seen as a crucial move to help restore an elected government, with his party, the National People’s Party (NPP), poised to play a key role.
Sangma, who also serves as President of the NPP, leads a party holding seven seats in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, making it the second-largest party after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which commands 32 seats.
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Touching down at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport around 1 p.m., Sangma will engage in a packed schedule, meeting NPP lawmakers, civil society groups, and local community leaders. A key meeting with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan is planned for Thursday afternoon, with inclusive governance expected to dominate discussions. On Friday, he will address the media in Imphal before traveling to Dimapur via Kangpokpi, according to party sources.
The NPP’s role in Manipur politics is significant. The party initially supported the BJP-led government formed on March 23, 2022, helping boost its tally to 54 legislators. However, last November, the NPP withdrew support, criticizing the government’s handling of escalating unrest in the state.
Adding to the political drama, former Outer Manipur Lok Sabha MP Dr. Lorho S. Pfoze recently switched allegiance from the Naga People’s Front to the NPP during a high-profile event in Shillong last month.
As Sangma steps into this charged political environment, all eyes are on whether his visit will forge new alliances and set the stage for a more cohesive and stable future in Manipur.
