Crucial meeting lined up on Jan 28 at Guwahati
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 25 2026: Even as talks of the return of the popular Government is fast gaining currency, the Kuki-Zo MLAs are likely to meet officials of the Union Home Ministry at Guwahati on January 28 .

Sources, who The Sangai Express reached out to, said that the meeting is likely to focus on the return of the popular Government as well as the participation of the Kuki-Zo MLAs in the formation of the Government.

Two Kuki MLAs are already Guwahati, though they are there for some personal work, said the sources.

The scheduled meeting gains importance in the face of the presence of a number of power players over the question of Government formation, said the sources and added that apart from the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs, there is the Kuki-Zo Council, which had stated that participation of the Kuki-Zo MLAs in Government formation does not arise.

Likewise a number of other Kuki-Zo civil society organisations including the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and the Kuki Inpi, Manipur (KIM), had made their stand clear against taking part in Government formation.

There is also the presence and influence of the armed groups under the SoO pact, while one non-SoO group the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), had made its stand clear that the MLAs should have no truck with any move for Government formation.

Sources further said that the village volunteer guards in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi too have a significant reach and influence amongst the Kuki-Zo community and where they stand could influence the stand on Government formation.

The January 28 scheduled meeting comes close on the heels of another meeting held at Guwahati on January 24 .

Dr Sambit Patra, MP from Puri Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency, North East Coordinator, and National Spokesperson of BJP, held a closed-door discussion with a few elected Kuki MLAs from Manipur.

The discussion is reported to have been cordial and positive.

On the other hand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting Assam on January 30, 2026, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive on February 14, 2026 .

These high-profile visits to the election-bound State of Assam are considered significant, with both leaders expected to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for various development projects.

During his visit, the Union Home Minister may review the prevailing law and order situation in the North East.

He is also likely to interact with elected MLAs from Manipur's Kuki community as a final push to reinstate a democratic Government in Manipur before February 12, 2026, according to an unconfirmed report.

The Centre is closely monitoring the prevailing situation in Manipur through coordinated efforts of State and Central agencies.

The recent killing of a Meitei youth, Rishikanta Singh, on January 21 in Churachandpur, after several months of relative calm, has been taken very seriously by the Union Home Ministry.

The Ministry has directed security agencies operating in the State to track down the militants behind this heinous crime and take stringent action.

The case has been handed over to the NIA for investigation and probe.

The Union Home Ministry may now take strict action against any militant or underground group committing violence or unlawful activities, including extortion, in the State's hill and plain areas.

Comment