In what is seen as a major political development, a delegation of Manipur BJP legislators camping in New Delhi was reportedly snubbed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and instead held a crucial meeting with BJP national general secretary (organization) B.L. Santosh on Friday to press for the end of President’s Rule and restoration of a popular government in the state.
The meeting, held at Santosh’s residence in the national capital around 11 a.m., was attended by a six-member delegation led by Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata and former chief minister N. Biren Singh. Other members included Yumnam Khemchand, Thongam Biswajit, Kh. Ibomcha, and Konthoujam Govindas.
According to sources, the delegation conveyed to the party leadership the growing frustration among BJP legislators and workers in Manipur, citing immense pressure from supporters to reinstate an elected government. The MLAs reportedly expressed concern that the prolonged imposition of President’s Rule had created governance paralysis and alienated the party’s grassroots base.
Following an hour-long discussion, B.L. Santosh is said to have assured the delegation that a popular government would be formed at the earliest after due consultation and deliberation at the Central level. The meeting was described as positive and constructive, reflecting what insiders called a “collective commitment” to restore political stability and peace in the state.
The BJP MLAs, numbering around 25, have been stationed in New Delhi for the past several days lobbying the Central leadership to lift President’s Rule and reconstitute the state government. They had earlier met Northeast BJP coordinator Sambit Patra on Wednesday to raise the same demand.
It was during that meeting that Patra reportedly agreed to arrange an appointment with B.L. Santosh, assuring the MLAs that the Centre was not inclined to extend President’s Rule further beyond its current tenure ending in February 2026. Patra was also said to have reiterated the leadership’s intent to ensure a political solution that complements the ongoing peace process between the warring communities in the state.
During their meeting with Patra, the legislators highlighted the growing dissatisfaction among party supporters and the difficulties they were facing under President’s Rule. They warned that if the political deadlock continues, the BJP might face severe setbacks in the 2027 Manipur Assembly elections.
The prolonged political vacuum in Manipur began after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned on February 9, 2024, amid mounting pressure for leadership change following months of ethnic unrest and administrative paralysis. The Centre imposed President’s Rule on February 13, 2024, initially for six months and later extended for another six months, which is set to expire in February 2026.
Manipur continues to grapple with the aftermath of the ethnic conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023, claiming over 260 lives and displacing more than 60,000 people. Despite relative calm in recent months, the absence of an elected government has led to growing unease among local communities and political stakeholders alike.
Friday’s meeting with B.L. Santosh is now being interpreted as a turning point in the BJP’s efforts to break the political impasse in Manipur. While the Union Home Minister’s cold shoulder reportedly disappointed several MLAs, insiders claim the delegation returned from the meeting with Santosh “satisfied and hopeful” that normal governance may soon be restored in the troubled state.
