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<p data-start="0" data-end="81"><strong data-start="0" data-end="81">Manipur MLAs Call for Restoration of Popular Government Amid Prolonged Crisis</strong></p>
<p data-start="83" data-end="122"><strong data-start="83" data-end="122">By a Senior Political Correspondent</strong></p>
<p data-start="124" data-end="511">Imphal &mdash; In a significant political development amid the protracted instability in Manipur, a delegation of ten MLAs&mdash;eight from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one from the National People&rsquo;s Party (NPP), and an Independent&mdash;called upon Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, pressing for the restoration of an elected government in the conflict-ravaged state.</p>
<p data-start="513" data-end="900">The meeting, held under the shadow of President&rsquo;s Rule imposed earlier this year, signals renewed political manoeuvring in a region that has remained under central administrative control since February. Independent MLA Sapam Nishikanta Singh, speaking to the press following the engagement, stated that the demand to reinstate a &ldquo;popular government&rdquo; was at the core of their discussions.</p>
<p data-start="902" data-end="1264">While carefully navigating the sensitivities surrounding the issue, Singh acknowledged that the prolonged absence of an elected dispensation has deepened the sense of political vacuum in the state. &ldquo;There is an overwhelming public sentiment in favour of a representative government,&rdquo; he said, adding that the interaction with the Governor was &ldquo;positive&rdquo; in tone.</p>
<p data-start="1266" data-end="1658">President&rsquo;s Rule was imposed in Manipur on 13 February, shortly after BJP leader N. Biren Singh stepped down from the chief ministerial post, marking a dramatic shift in the state's governance. The imposition followed months of ethnic violence that first erupted on 3 May 2023, when long-standing tensions between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zomi tribes exploded into widespread unrest.</p>
<p data-start="1660" data-end="2048">The violence&mdash;fueled by disputes over land rights, economic entitlements, and affirmative action provisions&mdash;left hundreds dead and forced an estimated 60,000 people to flee their homes. Despite repeated assurances from the Centre and sporadic visits by senior officials, peace has remained elusive, and governance has struggled to keep pace with the region&rsquo;s deepening humanitarian crisis.</p>
<p data-start="2050" data-end="2483">Wednesday&rsquo;s outreach to the Raj Bhavan reflects a growing urgency among legislators to reassert civilian authority and bring a measure of normalcy back to the political apparatus. For observers of Manipur&rsquo;s fractious politics, the call for a &ldquo;popular government&rdquo; carries a weight that goes beyond mere symbolism&mdash;it is a plea for democratic legitimacy in a state where conflict has rendered institutions inert and communities divided.</p>
<p data-start="2485" data-end="2788">Whether this move will gather sufficient momentum within the BJP-led centre, and whether the Governor will recommend a course correction to Delhi, remains uncertain. However, what is clear is that the yearning for political accountability&mdash;amid a governance vacuum and humanitarian trauma&mdash;has not dimmed.</p>
<p data-start="2790" data-end="3212" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">This is not the first time Manipur has found itself on the edge of constitutional exceptionalism. But the current crisis, prolonged and ethno-centric in nature, has tested both the resilience of its people and the adaptability of its institutions. As legislators push for reinstatement of democratic order, all eyes now turn to how New Delhi will weigh stability against representation in a state still struggling to heal. &nbsp;</p>
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Ten MLAs urge Governor to end President’s Rule and restore elected leadership in Manipur

Manipur MLAs Push for Return of Popular Govt

Ten MLAs urge Governor to end President’s Rule and restore elected leadership in Manipur

May 28, 2025 | 15:14 IST