Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 28: The political landscape in Manipur witnessed a significant development as BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam Singh announced on Wednesday, May 28 that 44 MLAs are ready to form a new government in the state. The declaration followed a meeting with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal.

Singh, accompanied by nine other legislators, said they had formally informed the governor of their willingness to establish a new government reflecting the people’s aspirations. "We conveyed to the governor that 44 MLAs are ready. We also discussed potential ways to address the current situation in the state," he told reporters, as quoted by a popular news agency.

He clarified that informing the governor of their readiness to form a government effectively amounted to staking a claim, although the final decision lies with the central BJP leadership. "Speaker Th Satyabrata has individually and collectively interacted with all 44 MLAs. There is unanimous agreement on the formation of a new government," Singh added.

Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February, following the resignation of chief minister N Biren Singh. His departure came amid sharp criticism over the government’s handling of prolonged ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that began in May 2023. The unrest has claimed over 250 lives and displaced thousands.

The current Manipur Assembly has 60 seats, one of which is vacant. The BJP-led coalition includes 32 Meitei MLAs, three from the Manipuri Muslim community, and nine Naga legislators, making up the 44 MLAs reportedly backing the new formation. The Congress holds five Meitei seats, while the remaining 10 MLAs—comprising seven BJP rebels, two Kuki People’s Alliance members, and one Independent—represent the Kuki community.

This political push comes amid renewed unrest in the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley following a controversy on May 20 in Gwaltabi, where security forces allegedly obscured the state's name on a government bus. The incident triggered protests, with Meitei organisations demanding an apology from the governor and calling for the resignation of the chief secretary, director general of police, and the security advisor.

Ethnic tensions in Manipur have remained unresolved since last year. Meitei groups continue to advocate for the state’s territorial integrity, while Kuki-Zo representatives demand a separate administration for the hill districts, further deepening the divide and complicating governance in the conflict-hit region.