The Manipur Democratic Alliance (MDA), a coalition of 10 political parties allied with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has expressed confidence that a new “popular government” will be established in Manipur by the first week of August, dismissing any talk of extending President’s Rule as “bogus.”
“There is no question of extending President’s Rule or dissolving the existing government. Most central leaders, including those from the NDA, Shiv Sena, and a Union minister, have assured me that a popular government is expected to take shape in early August,”
— MDA convenor M. Tombi said while addressing the media in Imphal on Saturday.
The MDA stated that the formation of an elected government is expected before the conclusion of the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament, which runs from July 21 to August 21.
President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2024, after then-Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned in the wake of prolonged ethnic violence and political instability that began on May 3, 2023. Since then, the state assembly has remained under suspended animation.
Shiv Sena’s Demands
In a parallel development, Shiv Sena, a key MDA and NDA partner, issued a four-point demand, which includes:
- Immediate formation of a popular government.
- Rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original locations.
- Unrestricted movement on national highways in accordance with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s March 8 directive.
- Immediate halt to the delimitation process based on the “bogus” 2011 census.
The party emphasized that the issue of illegal immigration must be resolved before the national delimitation exercise scheduled for 2026, and warned that no delimitation should take place in Manipur until this issue is fully addressed.
MDA Criticizes Delay
Tombi attributed the delay in government formation to a section of “selfish and power-hungry” MLAs, and urged all political parties to cooperate in restoring democratic governance.
“There is no leadership crisis. The issue is with a few MLAs who are stalling progress for personal gain. All parties should work together to bring back elected governance,”
— Tombi added.
The MDA remains optimistic that political normalcy will soon return to Manipur, with central NDA leaders reportedly backing the move toward restoring a democratically elected government in the violence-hit state.