New Delhi: Following the resignation of Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh on February 9, there is concern over whether the Bharatiya Janata Party has really addressed the prolonged crisis in Manipur. A BJP MLA from the state, Paolienlal Haokip, in conversation with The Wire, expressed skepticism, stating that meaningful change will only occur if the Union government establishes a separate administration for the Kuki community in the hill regions.
This sentiment was visibly demonstrated on December 10, 2024, when seven BJP MLAs staged a silent protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The MLAs donned black masks and refused to speak to the media. Before the protest, they had expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s handling of the Manipur crisis.
Exactly two months later, Haokip, who had been one of the protesting MLAs representing the Saikot constituency in Churachandpur, criticised the government’s approach to the ongoing ethnic tensions. He emphasised that Biren’s resignation is insufficient.
Haokip’s remarks underscore the complexities of Manipur’s political landscape, where demands for autonomy now challenge the state’s governance.
Assembly ’embarrassment’
Why did Biren Singh have to resign from the chief minister’s post at a time when the nation saw some momentum in BJP’s favour after its massive victory in Delhi on February 8? “To avoid the embarrassment of failing a floor test in the Assembly Session,” Haokip said.
Two days before Biren’s resignation, Congress’s state president Keisham Meghachandra had demanded a floor test. In a post on X, he said, “Brahmastra missile will surely hit one of the Double Engines!”.
He said that the Congress is set to move a no-confidence motion “soon.”
However, soon after Biren’s resignation, the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Bhalla, canceled the assembly session he had convened.
In the 60-member Manipur legislative assembly, the BJP has 37 seats. The Naga People’s Front (NPF) supports the government with its five MLAs. The Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) initially had six MLAs, but five of them moved to the BJP, leaving JD(U) with one MLA.
The National People’s Party (NPP), led by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma, initially supported the BJP-led government in Manipur. However, in November 2024, the NPP withdrew its support, citing Biren’s failure to control the ongoing violence.
Haokip also believes that the BJP government has lost its majority in Manipur and does not have the numbers for a floor test.
Biren’s ‘riddance’
Over the past 21 months, there have been multiple instances where BJP’s own MLAs have openly opposed Biren’s government. Though the BJP and its allies are well ahead of the magic number of 31, Haokip and several other MLAs believe that while the NDA holds a majority, many MLAs are against Biren.
Haokip said, “His resignation is nothing but good riddance to bad rubbish.”
Violence in Manipur began on May 3, 2023. Since then, residents of the state have steadily demanded Biren’s removal from power. However, the BJP leadership has largely shielded him. Haokip believes that removing Biren at this stage will not change anything.
He stated, “Whether he remains CM or not is irrelevant. The Kuki community wants a separate political and administrative unit under the Indian Union.”
When asked whether he would accept a new chief minister from within the BJP, even if the person was a Meitei, Haokip responded: “Even if the BJP appoints a Kuki chief minister, it won’t change anything. Total separation is in the national interest.”
Notably, in January, officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a meeting with Kuki representatives in Delhi. It is reported that a two-month ceasefire was proposed by the former, after which the demand for a separate administration will be considered.
The home ministry had also convened a meeting in October 2024, bringing together around 20 MLAs from the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities. This was the first instance since the outbreak of violence that legislators from the conflicting groups met to discuss potential solutions. The meeting, which lasted over two hours, was also attended by BJP MP Sambit Patra and senior officials from the ministry. However, both Union home minister Amit Shah and Biren were absent.
‘Truth alone triumphs’
When asked whether he trusts the Union government, Haokip replied, “Satyamev Jayate. Truth alone triumphs. If they are honest in their approach, a solution can be reached.”
Sources say that all BJP MLAs have been summoned to New Delhi on February 12 to discuss the selection of a new chief minister. Notably, Kuki BJP MLAs were reportedly neither contacted during the deliberations surrounding Biren’s resignation nor included in the discussions for his replacement.
Over the past 21 months of violence, dissatisfaction with the Biren-led government has been expressed not only by Kuki BJP MLAs but also by their Meitei counterparts. Both groups have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention. However, the prime minister has not spoken to any MLA who sought his attention regarding the crisis.
The ethnic conflict between the majority Meitei and Kuki communities has led to significant unrest in Manipur, resulting in over 250 deaths and displacing approximately 60,000 individuals since May 2023. The violence has been attributed to disputes over economic benefits and job quotas, with both communities suffering substantial losses.
