Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday made a significant visit to Kangpokpi district in Manipur as part of his ongoing two-day tour of the state. The visit aimed at fostering peace, engaging civil society, and strengthening his party’s presence in the region.
Sangma’s visit comes at a sensitive juncture in Manipur’s political landscape, marked by ethnic tensions, displacement, and uncertainty following prolonged unrest. The state has been under President’s Rule since February 2025 after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned amid escalating violence.
During his visit to Kangpokpi, Sangma met with several civil society organisations, community leaders, and tribal groups to solicit inputs on strategies for confidence-building, peace, and long-term stability in the hill districts.
He also received a memorandum from the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), which urged greater support and intervention for displaced families while raising concerns about representation and governance.
In his public remarks, Sangma underscored that the visit was not merely a political gesture but a sincere step toward what he described as “organic confidence-building” and participatory governance in Kangpokpi and neighbouring hill districts. He said that dialogue and trust must take precedence over coercion and confrontation, especially in regions with deep-seated ethnic and communal sensitivities.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the National People’s Party (NPP) seeks to expand its political engagement in Manipur from the grassroots level, with an emphasis on inclusion, dialogue, and shared responsibility. He held meetings with NPP legislators, state committee members, and the party’s youth and women’s wings to discuss the strengthening of the party’s structure in Manipur.
Sangma expressed optimism over the outcome of his meetings, describing the response from civil society and party functionaries as “very positive,” and suggested that the people were eager for constructive political engagement and peace initiatives. The visit drew widespread attention across regional political circles as an assertive move by the NPP to position itself proactively in Manipur’s power dynamics.
Some political observers interpret it as groundwork for the NPP to play a mediating role in resolving local conflicts or even in future government formation in the state. In Kangpokpi, local civil society organisations expressed cautious optimism, welcoming Sangma’s outreach while emphasizing that actual outcomes would depend on follow-through, resource commitment, and sustained engagement.
The memorandum submitted by CoTU reflects the urgency felt at the grassroots level for clarity on relief, rehabilitation, and administrative representation. Sangma’s visit concluded with a reaffirmation of his party’s commitment to work with all stakeholders in building peace and ensuring stability in Manipur’s hill districts.
