At a time when the BJP has intensified efforts for the restoration of an elected government in Manipur, a BJP MLA has opposed the move, stating that the Kuki-Zo MLAs will not partake in the process. “Without justice for the ethnic cleansing of our people, and sans a written commitment for political settlement, representatives of Kuki Zo people cannot be party to election of Legislative Party Leader in Manipur,” said BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip. He made the statement after the BJP Parliamentary Board on Monday appointed Tarun Chugh, national general secretary, as central observer for the election of the Legislature Party leader in Manipur. President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the Assembly was placed under suspended animation.
The BJP central leadership has summoned all its legislators as well as alliance partners from Manipur to be present in New Delhi for a crucial meeting. A meeting of all BJP MLAs has been scheduled at the party headquarters in New Delhi at 3 pm on Tuesday, which will be preceded by a meeting with alliance partners — the National People’s Party (NPP) and Naga People’s Front (NPF) — at 2 pm at Manipur Bhavan in Delhi. Paolienlal Haokip is one of the fiercest critics of former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and a key political figure in the demand for a separate administration for the Kuki tribes. Haokip maintains the only solution to the Manipur crisis is to create a Union Territory with legislature for his people and the government’s delay in addressing this legitimate demand is only worsening the situation on the ground. He is among the 10 Kuki and Zomi MLAs who are seeking a separate administration carved out of Manipur; seven of the 10 MLAs are from the ruling BJP. The BJP has 37 MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly. NPP and Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF), which are part of the NDA in Manipur, have six and five MLAs, respectively.
