New Delhi, February 2, 2026 : The Bharatiya Janata Party has initiated formal steps toward the restoration of an elected government in Manipur as President’s Rule in the state approaches its scheduled conclusion. The party has appointed national general secretary Tarun Chugh as the central observer to oversee the selection of a new leader of the BJP legislature party.
The move comes amid the arrival of several National Democratic Alliance legislators from Manipur in New Delhi, following a summons from the party’s central leadership. Discussions are expected to intensify in the coming days as the constitutional deadline for central rule draws closer.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, after the resignation of the previous government led by N. Biren Singh. The state assembly was placed under suspended animation following a prolonged breakdown of law and order linked to ethnic violence. The six-month period of central rule was subsequently extended twice and is now set to expire in about ten days.
Party sources indicated that consultations on leadership and government formation are likely to take place during a meeting scheduled at the BJP headquarters on Tuesday. Senior leaders, including former chief minister N. Biren Singh, state party president A. Sharda Devi, and other legislators, are expected to be part of the deliberations.
The leadership selection process is being viewed against the backdrop of continuing ethnic sensitivities in the northeastern state. Violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which erupted in May 2023, has significantly subsided, though the situation remains fragile. Officials estimate that tens of thousands of people continue to be affected by displacement resulting from the unrest.
With 37 members in the 60-seat assembly, the BJP holds a clear majority. However, party leaders are understood to be weighing different leadership options with an emphasis on stability, inclusivity, and representation of Manipur’s diverse communities.
Officials indicated that the formation of a popular government is seen as a key step toward restoring full constitutional governance and advancing long-term peace and normalcy in the state.
