New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated steps that could pave the way for the formation of a new government in Manipur, with the party leadership convening a high-level meeting in the national capital to review the political situation in the state. Party sources indicated that the deliberations will primarily centre on the prospects and roadmap for government formation, amid growing demands from BJP legislators to restore an elected dispensation.
Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh confirmed that the meeting will be held in Delhi and said that all BJP MLAs from the state have been instructed to attend. Speaking on the sidelines of the 86th Noopi Lal Day observance, Biren Singh noted that while no official agenda has been circulated, discussions are expected to focus on the formation of a new government in Manipur.
Speculation about political realignments has intensified in recent weeks, especially against the backdrop of continuing unrest in the state. Last month, senior central leaders, including BJP National General Secretary B.L. Santosh and the party’s North East in-charge Sambit Patra, visited Manipur and held a series of consultations with state-level leaders and MLAs. These engagements further fueled anticipation that the party leadership is actively exploring the possibility of reinstating a BJP-led government.
The momentum gathered in October when 26 BJP leaders from Manipur, including Biren Singh, met Santosh and Patra in Delhi. During that meeting, the leaders reportedly discussed the idea of forming a “people’s government” and conveyed their readiness to return to governance as a cohesive unit. Following those talks, Biren Singh publicly stated that all BJP legislators in the state were united in their resolve to form a government that reflects the people’s mandate.
He has since reiterated that the process of government formation is already underway, while choosing not to comment on differing views expressed by individual legislators. According to him, the restoration of an elected government would enable the administration to address several pressing challenges, including the humanitarian issues faced by displaced families amid the prolonged crisis.
Manipur was placed under President’s Rule on February 13, just days after Biren Singh stepped down as Chief Minister, as the state continued to grapple with ethnic violence and instability. Following the imposition of President’s Rule, the 60-member state Assembly was put under suspended animation, though its term has been extended until 2027. The proposed BJP meeting is now being closely watched as a potential turning point in the state’s political and administrative trajectory.