Manipur Power Play 2026: BJP Weighs ‘Popular Government’
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat in Manipur. (Image VSK Bharat on X)
Manipur political crisis enters a decisive phase as BJP MLAs push for restoration of a popular government under President’s Rule, with Biren Singh and multiple contenders in the fray.
By NIRENDRA DEV
New Delhi, January 14, 2026 — Speculation is once again rife in Imphal’s political corridors. The BJP central leadership is reportedly considering sustained demands from its Manipur legislators to restore a popular government before the completion of one year under President’s Rule.
A crucial meeting held yesterday in Guwahati—attended by BJP legislators, representatives of the Kuki-Zo Council, and delegates from the Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups—has added momentum to the debate. Among its key resolutions was a clear demand that a “definitive political solution” for the Kuki-Zo people must be achieved before the 2027 Manipur Assembly elections.
Manipur was placed under President’s Rule on February 13, 2025, four days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned, following the appointment of Ajay Bhalla as Governor. The decision came in the aftermath of the deadly ethnic violence of 2023 between Meiteis and Kukis-Zos, which left hundreds dead, thousands injured, and over 8,000 displaced to Mizoram.
The scale of displacement—combined with ethnic affinities between Kukis and Mizos—rekindled talk of Greater Mizoram, intensifying concerns of long-term instability. With Meiteis, Kukis, and Nagas all politically mobilised, Manipur has been teetering dangerously close to prolonged civil unrest—making President’s Rule largely welcome at the time.
However, with Assembly elections due by March 2027, BJP MLAs are keen to use what one legislator described as the “one-year window” to smoothen the party’s return to power.
“We have one year. We must use it wisely to ensure an easier comeback in 2027,” a BJP legislator said.
In December 2025, the BJP high command reportedly cautioned Manipur MLAs against being “guided or misguided by civil society,” a move widely interpreted as a snub to Biren Singh. A subsequent high-powered meeting with B L Santhosh, BJP general secretary (organisation), left several MLAs disappointed due to the absence of a firm commitment on restoring a popular government.
Yet, behind-the-scenes groundwork appears to be underway.
One strong indication is the possibility of Biren Singh being shifted to Delhi as a Rajya Sabha MP—a move seen as politically strategic. Congress Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has repeatedly cornered the Centre over the 2023 violence. Biren Singh’s presence in the Upper House could help the BJP counter this narrative, while also reopening debates over what it terms “Congress-era lapses” in Manipur.
Such a move would also allow the BJP to zero in on a new Chief Ministerial face.
Among the names doing the rounds are: Thokchom Satyabrata Singh (Speaker of the suspended Assembly); Thongam Biswajit Singh; Govindas Konthoujam Singh; Thokchom Radheshyam Singh; and Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
Despite the speculation, sources say Biren Singh remains reluctant to exit state politics, keeping himself very much in the race.
Sangh Parivar sources suggest the new dispensation—if installed—will prioritise reinforcing the BJP-RSS line that the 2023 violence was ethnic, not communal, alleging that vested interests, both domestic and overseas, deliberately sought to project it as a religious conflict.
Healing Meitei–Kuki relations, however, remains the toughest challenge. The Centre is also weighing the option of appointing a tribal Deputy Chief Minister. This could place pressure on Kuki leaders to cooperate, as a refusal may see the post offered instead to a Naga MLA. Notably, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, now also heading the NPF, is said to be lobbying for key portfolios for Naga legislators.
Meanwhile, rehabilitation of internally displaced persons continues to dog the administration. Even the iconic Sangai Festival recently became a flashpoint—an episode that reportedly embarrassed Governor Ajay Bhalla and was viewed in Delhi as a subtle pressure tactic by influential local players.
As the BJP reads the political signals “between the lines,” Manipur appears poised for yet another high-stakes reset.
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