MP Bimol opposes PR extension, bats for fresh polls
Issues of internally displaced persons, buffer zones to be raised in Parliament
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 16 2025: Taking a swing at the BJP for their failure to form a government despite holding a majority, Inner Manipur MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has stated that if President's Rule is to be extended, the state assembly should be dissolved and fresh elections held to secure a fresh mandate from the people.

"What the Constitution of India stipulates is that a state be governed by elected representatives and the same should also apply to Manipur," Dr Bimol told media persons at his Keishamthong residence Wednesday.

The MP also highlighted issues he intends to raise during the Monsoon session of the Parliament commencing from July 21 .

MP Bimol opposes PR extension, bats for fresh polls

Replying to a media query, the MP said he will raise questions on non-formation of a popular government in Manipur despite a party holding a majority and the alien rule in the state if he gets opportunity to speak when the motion for extension of President's Rule in Manipur comes up.

"Why should the President's Rule be extended in Manipur when BJP is commanding a majority and the Constitution also says that a state should be governed by the elected representatives?" he asked.

He said that if the party (BJP) holding a majority is unable to form government despite having the mandate of the people and the Centre has to keep extending President's rule, then it's better to dissolve the assembly and hold fresh elections.

"Constitution maker Dr BR Ambedkar had recommended imposition of Article 356 (President's Rule) in the rarest of cases," he reminded.

Dr Bimol's remark came amidst the Centre planning to seek the Parliament's nod for an extension of the President's Rule and place the Demand for Grants of the state for the approval of the House during the Monsoon session beginning July 21 .

According to the Constitution, a proclamation of the President's Rule needs to get Parliament's approval every six months.

While asserting that no policy is visible till date to resolve the violence since May 3, 2023, Dr Bimol said the violence cannot be considered resolved until all the displaced persons return to their respective homes.

Even though state government gave the assurance to return displaced persons to then-homes by December this year, only five months are left now and the meeting chaired by Governor on returning displaced persons had many flaws and unclear to public, he said and assured to raise these issues during the Parliament session if he gets an opportunity.

Reiterating that he would raise in Parliament the issues of the internally displaced persons, the existence of buffer zones and instances of alleged mis-governance in the state, the MP claimed that even after two years, the conditions in which displaced people are staying are "horrible", and the education of their children has been "affected".

He also expressed reservations on the recent announcement by chief secretary PK Singh that relief camps would be closed by December in three phases.

The Congress MP said, "There is a lack of clarity in the announcement of resettling internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their native places.

IDPs from Moreh and Churachandpur will not return immediately.

Why is that? Has the government consulted IDPs before making the announcement? I fear that if relief camps are closed, no one will visit such temporary settlements.

And people would gradually forget the plight of displaced people." The MP also said authorities and security forces claim that there is no Suffer zone, but the fact is that "free movement is not allowed".

"This is against the Constitution and should not be seen as a Kuki-Meetei issue.

There have been a lot of governance issues in the state.

For instance, in water-related schemes, thousands of beneficiaries have been listed, but a few have received water connections.

This is a scam.

I will raise all these issues during the next session of Parliament," Bimol affirmed.

He also termed as unfortunate that officers and bureaucrats who are not of the Manipur cadre have been given key positions during the President's Rule, consequently straining the relationship between the administration and the local people.

Regarding reports about Manipur cadre IAS officer PK Singh replaced by another non-Manipur cadre as the chief secretary, Dr Bimol pointed out that understanding local environment and accountability in administration of a state or country is crucial for effective governance.

"It raises questions about how a chief secretary who knows nothing about the state can tackle pressing issues.

Such alien administration is unfortunate and undermines local accountability," he stated.

Khundrakpam MLA Th Lokeswar, who also attended the press conference, told media persons that resolving the violence in Manipur lies at the hands of the Prime Minister and the Union home minister.

However, lengthening the President's Rule instead of resolving the crisis and appointment of key posts like chief secretary and DGP from non-Manipur cadres of IAS and IPS officers unknown to local environment and accountability would not only snap comnfunication between the administration and local people but also create fear if final stage of balkanisation of Manipur has arrived, Lokeswar said and appealed people to be vigilant of the new strategy of the Centre to distort the state completely.

According to MLA Lokeswar, chief secretary of a state is very important and communicate with the people but a noh-state IAS cadre has been appointed to the top post.

It will take several months and even years for the new chief secretary to understand local issues, he maintained and accused the Centre of reducing Manipur to training ground for bureaucrat officers instead of resolving the crisis.

It is pertinent to mention here that the centre had on February 13 imposed the President's rule after chief minister N Biren Singh resigned in the wake of the ethnic violence, which claimed the lives of over 260 people and rendered thousands homeless, since May 2023.The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.