NDA legislators from Manipur have arrived in the national capital after being summoned by the BJP’s central leadership for consultations on the possible formation of a popular government, days before the current spell of President’s rule in the state expires next week.
Nearly 20 MLAs reached Delhi on Sunday night, with others arriving on Monday on the party leadership’s direction. The legislators are expected to meet senior BJP leaders later on Monday to assess the prevailing political situation and decide whether conditions are conducive for a party-led government.
The discussions come ahead of the expiry of the second spell of President’s rule, first imposed on February 13, 2025, for six months following prolonged ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The central rule was extended for another six months in August 2025.
Among those present in Delhi are former chief minister N Biren Singh, Assembly Speaker Satyabrata Singh, former minister Y Khemchand Singh and BJP state president A Sharda Devi.
President’s rule was imposed after the BJP-led government headed by Biren Singh resigned on February 9, following months of unrest. The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, was subsequently placed under suspended animation.
The BJP leadership has, over the past few months, held multiple rounds of separate consultations with its Meitei and Kuki MLAs, allies including the National People’s Party (NPP) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF), as well as Independent legislators, to gauge views on restoring an elected government.
On December 14, 2025, BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh and the party’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra met BJP MLAs from both the Meitei and Kuki communities together in Delhi.
However, sources said progress has been hindered by the inability of the BJP’s Kuki MLAs to commit to participation in any future government, citing sustained community pressure. The Kuki groups, the sources added, continue to seek a firm assurance from the Centre on their demand for a Union Territory with a legislature.
Also read: Manipur BJP MLAs head to Delhi as President’s Rule nears end
The BJP currently has 37 MLAs in the Manipur Assembly. While the party won 32 seats in the 2022 elections, five Janata Dal (United) MLAs later defected to the BJP, raising its strength. Other MLAs include six from the NPP, five from the NPF, five from the Congress, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance, one from JD(U) and three Independents. One seat remains vacant following the death of a sitting MLA.
Sources said if a new government is not formed in the coming weeks, a statutory resolution will be required in both Houses of Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session to extend President’s rule.
Following the imposition of central rule, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla initiated steps to restore normalcy, including directing the surrender of looted arms.
The ethnic violence, which began in May 2023 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in hill districts opposing the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status, has claimed at least 260 lives.
BJP appoints central observer for election of Manipur legislature party leader
The BJP on Monday appointed its national general secretary Tarun Chugh as the central observer for the election of the Manipur legislature party leader, signalling a possible move towards government formation as President’s Rule nears its end in the state.
The decision was taken by the BJP Parliamentary Board as NDA MLAs from Manipur arrived in Delhi after being summoned by the party’s central leadership to discuss the political situation.
Confirming the appointment, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said Chugh would oversee the process. Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister Biren Singh amid prolonged ethnic violence.
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