7 BJP MLAs Meet Manipur Governor, Demand Restoration of Highway Traffic and Relief for Displaced Locals

Imphal: In a significant development amid Manipur’s ongoing political crisis, seven Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday, pressing for urgent intervention to address the hardships faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) and to restore the free flow of traffic on the state’s key highways.

The delegation included MLAs RK Imo, Usham Deben, Dinganglung Gangmei, Sapam Ranjan, K Ibomcha, Karam Shyam, and Sapam Kunjakeswor alias Keba.

“We met the Governor to discuss the continuing crisis in Manipur, particularly the plight of displaced persons whose homes remain unreconstructed. We also stressed the need to restore unrestricted travel on highways, which is critical for both the economy and public movement,” said Usham Deben.

The meeting came just two days after the People’s Progressive Alliance Manipur (PPAM), a coalition of 16 civil society organisations, demanded immediate government formation and warned of a public campaign to hold MLAs accountable for the worsening crisis.

Since the imposition of President’s Rule in February following former CM N Biren Singh’s resignation, the state has been without an active government. The 59-member legislative assembly has failed to reach a consensus on a new leader, keeping the house in suspended animation.

The prolonged delay has fueled unrest in the state, where over 60,000 people remain displaced and at least 260 have died in ethnic violence since May 2023. The conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities has deeply divided the state, with buffer zones separating the two populations.

Meanwhile, fresh tensions erupted in Shangching and Lungreiphung Tang villages over a land dispute, resulting in one death and five injuries. In response, Additional District Magistrate Polly Makan imposed prohibitory orders in the affected areas to prevent further escalation.

As the humanitarian and political crisis deepens, pressure is mounting on central and state authorities to act swiftly.