Manipur may get a new Chief Minister as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) convenes a meeting of its Legislative Party at the party’s central headquarters, amid expectations of a new government formation in the state.
The name of seven-time MLA from Bishnupur, Govinddas Konthoujam, is being considered as a frontrunner in the race. Even before this meeting, expectations intensified that President’s Rule in the state could end and a new government may be formed.
A meeting of all NDA MLAs from the Manipur Assembly began at the BJP headquarters, which includes legislators from the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities.
The objective of this meeting is to review the ground situation and also to select the leader of the legislature party. Earlier on Monday evening, senior BJP leader Tarun Chugh was appointed as the party’s central observer to oversee the selection of the legislature party leader. According to sources, the meeting began at 3 pm on Tuesday at the BJP headquarters in Delhi.
According to sources, senior BJP leader Govinddas Konthoujam, who has been elected seven consecutive times from the Bishnupur Assembly constituency, is being seen as the leading contender for the post of Chief Minister. He is a seasoned leader and is regarded as an experienced face within the party.
Following the ethnic violence that began in May 2023, political instability gripped the state, leading to the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur in February last year. After President’s Rule was imposed, the state assembly was kept under suspension rather than being dissolved, so that efforts to form a government could continue.
In the 60-member Manipur Assembly, the BJP holds a majority. After the death of National People’s Party (NPP) MLA N. Kayisii in January, the current strength of the Assembly stands at 59 members. The BJP has 32 seats, including seven MLAs from the Kuki-Zo community. After the 2022 Assembly elections, five Janata Dal (United) MLAs joined the BJP, increasing the party’s strength to 37.
Among other parties, the Conrad Sangma-led NPP has six MLAs and was earlier an ally of the BJP. In November 2024, the NPP withdrew support from the N. Biren Singh government following differences, though the party continues to support the BJP at the Centre.
Another former BJP ally, the Kuki People’s Alliance, has two MLAs. Apart from this, the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) has five MLAs, there are three Independents, five Congress MLAs, and one JD(U) MLA in the Assembly.
Those who have reached Delhi include Manipur Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, former state minister Y. Khemchand Singh, NPP’s Thokchom Shanti Singh, NPF’s Awangbou Newmai, among several others.
Over the past four months, the BJP’s central leadership has held multiple rounds of meetings with party MLAs, including those from the Kuki-Zo community, as well as allied parties NPP and NPF, in an effort to pave the way for government formation.
More than 250 people have lost their lives in the violence in Manipur, and over 60,000 people from both communities have been displaced, although the situation has been gradually returning to normal in recent months.
