Guwahati, Oct 9: Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad K. Sangma arrived in Imphal on Thursday, marking his first visit to Manipur since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.
His visit comes amid rising demands for the restoration of an elected government in the state, which has been under President’s Rule since February this year.
Sangma, whose NPP has six MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, was received at the airport by party MLAs, state NPP president Y. Joykumar Singh, and other senior party leaders. During the visit, he met representatives of various displaced communities and civil society organisations, reaffirming his party’s commitment to peace-building and democratic restoration in the state.
“As a political party, it is essential to reach out and engage. If we don’t connect with the grassroots, we are missing the point. Our aim is to engage directly with the people,” Sangma said, underlining the importance of community-led dialogue in rebuilding trust and harmony.
The NPP chief also called for the installation of a “democratically elected government” as a critical step toward achieving normalcy. “To restore normalcy, it is vital that a democratically elected government is in place,” he said, adding that the NPP would consult its legislators before making any decision on extending support to a BJP-led government.
“We will examine the situation and consult all leaders and stakeholders. Before deciding on supporting a BJP-led government, we will first discuss with our MLAs. As a political party, we stand for a pro-public and democratically elected government,” Sangma said.
The NPP had earlier withdrawn support from the BJP-led coalition on November 12, 2024, citing a “loss of confidence” in then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s leadership. Meghalaya, notably, has a significant Kuki population, a community deeply affected by the Manipur conflict.
Sangma noted that while the situation in Manipur has improved, peace remains fragile. “We have seen a reduction in violence, but that doesn’t necessarily mean peace has returned to the state. Building trust and engaging with one another is a work in progress; much remains to be done,” he said.
He also called on Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and described their meeting as “fruitful.” “Leadership will play a crucial role. Political parties and various stakeholders must actively engage, and I hope this process will pave the way for lasting peace in the state,” Sangma added.
The Meghalaya Chief Minister’s three-day visit includes consultations with NPP legislators and community leaders in Manipur, followed by engagements in Nagaland from October 9 to 11.
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