Centre to take call on Manipur government formation this week? Biren Singh to meet top BJP leaders today

The push for restoring an elected government, as confirmed by Singh, comes amid intense public pressure in Imphal.

If the recent spurt in political engagements in Delhi is anything to go by, the Centre may soon take a call on government formation in Manipur -- a state which has been under President’s rule since February 13 this year.

Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, who is accompanied by three MLAs from the Imphal valley -- T. Robindro, Sapam Ranjan and H. Dingo Singh – is scheduled to meet with the BJP’s Northeast co-ordinator Sambit Patra and is seeking an appointment with Union home minister Amit Shah.

This marks the first visit by the state’s senior BJP leadership to the capital since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the violence-hit state on September 13.  The push for restoring an elected government, as confirmed by Singh, comes amid intense public pressure in Imphal.

The delegation from Manipur is to press the central leadership for the formation of a popular government. This development raises pertinent questions about the BJP’s strategy and the feasibility of restoring democratic governance in a state grappling with prolonged ethnic violence.

Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla is also reportedly in Delhi. “The final decision after the meetings with central leaders, Union home minister, and finally the Prime Minister, would be taken in the next few days, which may take a week or longer,” the New Indian Express reported quoting a senior BJP leader

Despite the imposition of President’s Rule, the Manipur Legislative Assembly remains under suspended animation, with its term lasting until 2027. This technicality provides a window for the BJP to stake a claim for government formation.

The meeting in Delhi comes seven months after the imposition of President’s rule following the resignation of Biren Singh on February 9. Since then, no political party or coalition has staked a claim to form the government, resulting in the continued imposition of Central rule. With the law and order situation improving to a great extent, political observers expect a BJP-led government may soon come to power in Manipur.

Meanwhile, security forces have arrested 15 cadres of the banned People’s Liberation Army in connection with last month’s ambush on a convoy, which killed two soldiers.