Guwahati, New DelhiOctober 9, 2025 07:00 AM IST First published on: Oct 9, 2025 at 07:00 AM ISTWeeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to Manipur since ethnic unrest began in May 2023, NDA MLAs of the state have again begun raising pressure for the restoration of a popular government in Manipur. Over 27 MLAs of the alliance have been camping in New Delhi now since October 5.Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13 and, for some time now, the Meitei and Naga NDA MLAs have been demanding that a popular government be restored in the state (the state Assembly has not been dissolved). The Centre imposed President’s Rule after months of resisting pressure on it to ask Chief Minister N Biren Singh, a Meitei leader blamed by the Kukis for exacerbating the conflict in the state, to quit.AdvertisementThe widespread support for a government to take over is clear from the fact that the group of MLAs who are currently in Delhi includes Biren Singh and those close to him, as well as those against his leadership, including Speaker Th Satyabrata Singh.Of the 59 MLAs currently in the Manipur Assembly (one seat is vacant because of the death of an MLA), 37 are from the BJP, 6 and 5 from NDA partners NPP and NPF, respectively, and one from another ally, JD(U).Seven of the BJP MLAs belong to the Kuki-Zo community. Of the remaining 30, 27 BJP MLAs have been holding meetings with the BJP’s Northeast coordinator, Sambit Patra. Sources said their demands include a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.AdvertisementWith the Centre resisting this pressure since April this year, one of the MLAs said that now was “the right time”. “There were a lot of differences among us earlier, but now everyone is on the same page about the need for a popular government. There is relative normalcy and peace, and the rest of the affairs can only be handled by a popular government. We want it to happen democratically and want the Central leadership to meet us.”Another MLA said: “There may be half-a-dozen chief ministerial aspirants still and all pushing their case… but everyone is united when it comes to the demand for a party-led government in the state.”A BJP leader said that the government needed to understand that it was “not just something we are pushing for as MLAs”, and that the longer Central rule is stretched, the worse it would be for their electoral prospects. “There is immense pressure on us from the public over this.”This meant that they had no choice but to keep “knocking at the Centre’s doors”, the MLAs said.most readPointing out that PM Modi’s visit to Manipur itself was an indication of the improved situation in the state, a BJP leader said: “Everything cannot be dealt with by the Central government. The Central leadership and officials can give broad guidelines for the state… The Centre should not keep itself tied up in the state.”Another leader said that even if law and order issues remain, a state government could handle them better now. “The agreement between the Centre and Kuki-Zo insurgent groups has been renewed, National Highways are open. Still we cannot claim that the law and order situation is under control. The other major issue before the state is financial. But for both these issues, a local government is much more equipped.”A source, however, said that the Central leadership remains wary. “The top leadership is not in a mood to end presidential rule and install a government. The feedback from officials too is not in favour of ending Central rule.”