21 MLAs write to PM, seek installation of popular Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 29 2025: Altogether 21 Members of Manipur Legislative Assembly today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking reinstatement of a popular Government in the State.

MLAs Paonam Brojen (Wangjing-Tentha AC), Kh Raghumani (Uripok AC) and Dr Yumnam Radheshyam (Hiyanglam AC) went to the offices of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister at New Delhi today and submitted the letter.

The letter seeking reinstatement of a popular Government was signed by 13 BJP MLAs, three NPP MLAs, three NPF MLAs and two Independent MLAs.

The BJP MLAs who signed the letter are Paonam Brojen (Wangjing-Tentha AC), Kh Raghumani (Uripok AC), Dr Yumnam Radheshyam (Hiyanglam AC), L Rameshwor Meitei (Keirao AC), T Robindro (Thanga AC), Md Achab Uddin (Jiribam AC), Sorokhaibam Rajen (Lamsang AC), Thokchom Radheshyam (Heirok AC), Kongkham Robindro (Mayang Imphal AC), Yumnam Khemchand (Singjamei AC), Thangjam Arunkumar (Wangkhei AC), Khumukcham Joykisan (Thangmeiband AC) and Soraisam Kebi Devi (Naoriya Pakhanglakpa AC).

The NPP MLAs who have appended their signatures on the letter are Janghemlung Panmei (Tamenglong AC), Sheikh Noorul Hassan (Kshetrigao AC) and Khuraijam Loken (Wangoi AC).

NPF MLAs Leishiyo Keishing (Phungyar AC), Losii Dikho (Mao AC) and Ram Muivah (Ukhrul AC) too signed the letter seeking reinstatement of a popular Government in the State.

Two independent MLAs also signed the same letter.

The letter said that the people of Manipur welcomed the Centre's decision to impose President's Rule in the State with effect from February 13, 2025 with the hope that the Centre's direct rule would be able to bring a concrete solution to the protracted Manipur crisis.

However, there has been no visible actions towards restoring peace and normalcy in the State even after almost three months of imposing the President's Rule, the letter said.

At the same time, there is a strong apprehension that violence may reoccur in the State.

Many civil society organisations have come out openly against the imposition of President's Rule in the State.

Demanding installation of a popular Government in the State, the CSOs have started organising public rallies, street comer meetings mobilising the general public and blaming the ruling MLAs for not staking claim to form a popular Government, it said.

The CSOs are saying that the ruling MLAs are responsible for imposition of President's Rule in Manipur, the MLAs wrote to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.

"We feel that installation of a popular Government is the only means to bring peace and normalcy in Manipur", they asserted.

The MLAs urged the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to take necessary steps to install a popular Government in Manipur at the earliest in the interest of the people of Manipur.

"We assure you that we will work with full dedication and devotion to bring peace and normalcy in our State once a popular Government is re-installed", the MLAs wrote.

Meanwhile, some MLAs who signed the letter told The Sangai Express that as people started articulating their wish for a popular Government in the aftermath of the imposition of President's Rule, the ruling MLAs, particularly BJP MLAs reached an understanding to work collectively for reinstallation of a popular Government.

MLAs who sought replacement of Chief Minister N Biren held a meeting with their colleagues who wanted N Biren to continue as the State's Chief Minister, and the two groups of MLAs came to an understanding that they would accept whoever is chosen by the BJP high command from amongst the BJP MLAs as the Chief Minister of Manipur.

The two groups of MLAs also agreed to collect all their signatures and exert pressure on the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to reinstall a popular Government in the State.

Although the letter submitted today was drafted some time back, some of the MLAs refrained from signing the letter.

BJP MLAs Khongbantabam Ibomcha (Lamlai AC), Sapam Kunjakeswar alias Keba (Patsoi AC) and Karam Shyam (Langthabal AC) said that they too would sign the letter but they sought some more time.

As the matter could not be delayed any longer in the interest of the people of Manipur just because the three BJP MLAs have not signed it, the letter was submitted today without their signatures, said the MLAs.

On the other hand, some other MLAs could not sign the letter due to medical problems or other pressing matters in their respective families, they added.

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