Hopes of Kuki legislators joining the formation of a new elected government in Manipur have all but faded, with Kuki MLAs making it clear that they will not participate unless the incoming dispensation provides a written, constitutional and time-bound assurance for the creation of a separate Union Territory (UT) for the Kuki-Zo communities.
The position was finalised at a high-level meeting held in Guwahati on Tuesday, where Kuki MLAs met representatives of Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups and leaders of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) to assess the prevailing political and security situation in the state.
UT demand made non-negotiable
According to a resolution adopted at the meeting, participation in government formation will be contingent upon a firm commitment by both the Centre and the state to support a negotiated political settlement for a Union Territory with Legislature, under the Constitution.
The resolution stressed that such a commitment must be formally recorded in writing and implemented within a clearly defined timeframe during the tenure of the current Manipur Legislative Assembly.
“In the absence of such political commitment from both the Central and State governments, the meeting resolves to respect the political will of the people by refraining from taking any part in the formation of an elected government in Manipur,” the resolution stated.
The meeting further underlined that a definitive political solution for the Kuki-Zo people must be achieved before the 2027 General Elections, highlighting the urgency amid prolonged instability and administrative uncertainty.
Ethnic violence, trust deficit and de facto separation
Reviewing the ongoing crisis, the participants referred to the formal political demand submitted in September 2023 and recalled the intense ethnic violence and targeted attacks faced by the Kuki-Zo community since May 2023.
The resolution expressed grave concern over alleged complicity and support by state agencies during the violence, noting a profound erosion of trust in existing governance mechanisms.
Taking cognisance of what it described as an unprecedented de facto demographic and administrative separation that has persisted for nearly 32 months, the meeting unanimously reiterated that the Centre must urgently expedite a negotiated political settlement.
This settlement, it said, must include not only a Union Territory with Legislature but also robust constitutional safeguards to protect land ownership, identity and community rights of the Kuki-Zo people. The resolution further insisted that the agreement must be finalised and formally signed before the expiry of the normal tenure of the present Assembly.
President’s rule, Rajya Sabha stakes and Centre’s dilemma
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on February 9 amid sustained ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The Centre invoked Article 356 after the Governor reported a breakdown of constitutional machinery and political deadlock, as the ruling BJP failed to reach consensus on a successor despite having a majority.
Parliament later approved a six-month extension of President’s Rule from August 13, 2025, which remains in force until February 13, 2026.
The political impasse carries added significance for the BJP, as elections to Manipur’s lone Rajya Sabha seat are due this year. The seat, currently held by BJP MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, will fall vacant on June 21, 2026, making the formation of a stable government electorally crucial.
While the Centre has pointed to improvements in law and order under central rule, debates continue over whether conditions are conducive to restoring an elected government. Kuki-Zo organisations, including the KZC, have consistently opposed government formation without a prior political settlement, warning that participation by Kuki MLAs without safeguards could further destabilise an already fragile situation.
As the President’s Rule deadline draws closer, the Centre now faces mounting pressure to choose between restoring an elected government and addressing the long-standing demand for a separate administrative arrangement—an issue that continues to shape Manipur’s political future.
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