NEW DELHI: With Manipur CM N Biren Singh stepping down, Centre is hopeful Kuki leaders will be more amenable to sitting across the negotiating table to sort out issues creating mistrust between Kuki and Meitei communities and which has been at the root of ethnic strife in the state since May 2023.
While there have been several attempts by Centre to get Meitei and Kukis to the talks table – with its interlocutors, over the past few months, having first met representatives of the two communities separately and later trying to get them to sit together – there has been stiff resistance from Kukis against starting substantive negotiations under the Singh regime. So much so, the peace efforts have hit a stalemate due to this stance; the resignation of Singh on Sunday is expected to soften the Kukis, convinced that the government is accommodative of their concerns and flexible and sincere in taking the talks forward. The timing of Singh’s resignation – which followed soon after he met home minister Amit Shah – was driven by the assessment that his support among MLAs has dwindled over time, with around one-and-half-dozen BJP MLAs having demanded a change in state leadership a few months back. Also, there is a sense that people of the state, both from the Valley and the hills, are tired of the prolonged conflict and failure of the Singh government to curb it and now want a decisive leadership to broker peace.
Sources said Centre is open to exploring all political alternatives in wake of Singh’s exit. This includes giving ample opportunity to another state BJP leader to stake claim to be the CM. The last option, in the event of no alternative government formation working out, would be the imposition of President’s rule.
Manipur is due for assembly elections in February 2027.
Sources in the Manipur security establishment indicated that the state police and central forces are in a state of alert to any possible reactions, including violent protests, to Singh’s resignation, particularly from his Meitei supporters. “The assessment is that the majority of Meitei people are tired of the ethnic strife and keen on a peaceful resolution. There may be pockets of support for Singh but forces are alert and prepared to handle any eventuality,” a senior officer told TOI.
With former home secretary Ajay Bhalla – who enjoys the trust of Shah – having been recently sent to Manipur as governor, Centre hopes even a spell of President’s rule, if inevitable, will help create a neutral setting for talks between Meiteis and Kukis.