Manipur MLAs return from Delhi after BJP assures President's rule won't be extended

Tawang: Manipur BJP MLA Kh Ibomcha said on Sunday that central leaders have assured a delegation of legislators from the state that President Rule will not be further extended.

Speaking to reporters at Imphal airport upon his return from Delhi, Ibomcha said, "We went to apprise the central leadership about the current political situation in Manipur. The central leaders assured that President's rule will not be further extended."

Around 26 MLAs had gone to New Delhi and in phases have started coming back. Manipur is under President’s Rule for the past 8 months.

The MLAs include former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Manipur Assembly Speaker Satyabrata Singh, former ministers Thongam Biswajit Singh, Sapam Ranjan Singh, Heikham Dingo, Yumkham Khemchand, Konthoujam Govindas, MLA Karam Shyam.

The MLAs in Delhi held meetings with BJP North-East in-charge and Lok Sabha MP Sambit Patra and party’s National General Secretary B.L. Santhosh.

MLA Karam Shyam said that both Patra and Santhosh had assured them of positive intent towards restoring an elected government. He said that the latest discussions reflected a “visible concern and commitment” from the party’s central leadership.

Former Minister Sapam Ranjan Singh said that the delegation’s key objective was to brief central leaders on Manipur’s political and security situation and press for the early restoration of an elected government. “We highlighted the importance of installing a popular government to ensure stability and public trust. The discussions were positive, and we expect a favourable outcome soon,” he said.

The state had a BJP-led coalition government headed by former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh before the imposition of President’s Rule on February 13 this year.

Singh quit the Chief Ministerial post on February 9, four days before the President’s Rule was imposed in the state due to prolonged ethnic violence, which broke out on May 3, 2023.

The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which, after the promulgation of President’s Rule, has been put under suspended animation, has a tenure till 2027.

After the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passed the statutory resolutions, the President’s Rule was extended for a further period of six months with effect from August 13, 2025.