Manipur government formation: 44 MLAs ready to stake claim, says BJP leader after meeting governor

NEW DELHI: BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam Singh on Wednesday claimed that 44 MLAs in Manipur are prepared to form a new government, following a meeting with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan.

Singh, accompanied by nine other MLAs, said the group had conveyed to the governor their readiness to form a government in line with public sentiment, news agency PTI reported. "We informed the governor that 44 MLAs are ready. We also discussed possible solutions to the ongoing issues in the state," he said.

"Letting the governor know that we’re ready is akin to staking a claim. The central BJP leadership will take the final call. Speaker Th Satyabrata has met all 44 MLAs individually and collectively. There is no opposition to forming a new government," he said.


Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February after chief minister N Biren Singh stepped down amid criticism over the handling of ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities. The conflict, which erupted in May 2023, has led to over 250 deaths and displaced thousands.

Of the 60 seats in the Manipur Assembly, one is currently vacant. The BJP-led coalition includes 32 Meitei MLAs, three Manipuri Muslim MLAs, and nine Naga legislators—totaling 44. The Congress holds five Meitei seats. The remaining 10 legislators are Kukis, including seven BJP rebels, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance, and one Independent.

The political developments come amid renewed unrest in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley following an incident in Gwaltabi on May 20, where security personnel allegedly concealed the state’s name on a government bus windshield. Meitei groups have demanded an apology from the governor and the resignation of the chief secretary, DGP, and security advisor.

Tensions have persisted since May 2023, with Meitei groups insisting on preserving Manipur’s territorial integrity, while Kuki-Zo representatives push for a separate administration in the hill districts.