The Manipur Democratic Alliance (MDA) has expressed confidence that a new government will be formed in Manipur by the beginning of August, firmly rejecting speculation about a possible extension of President’s Rule in the state.
Speaking at a press conference held on Saturday at the MDA office in Imphal, the alliance’s convener M. Tombi stated that several senior leaders from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and allied parties have conveyed assurance that the formation of a democratically elected government in Manipur is imminent.
“The speculation on the extension of President’s Rule in the strife-torn State is bogus,” Tombi said. “Most of the Central leaders I met have clearly indicated that a new Government is likely to be formed in the first week of August. There is no move to dissolve the Assembly either.”
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, following the resignation of N. Biren Singh from the Chief Minister’s post in the midst of ethnic unrest that began in May 2023. Although the state assembly has not been dissolved, it remains in suspended animation while the region continues to grapple with deep-rooted tensions.
Tombi alleged that internal rivalries among some elected representatives have delayed the process of government formation. “There are some MLAs who are selfish and eager to grab power, which is causing the delay. But the people want a stable, popular Government, and we must all work towards that,” he stated.
The MDA is a coalition of 10 political parties aligned with the NDA at the national level. It has been actively lobbying for a return to elected governance in the state and has maintained that President’s Rule is not a long-term solution to the region’s political instability.
With the upcoming Parliamentary Budget Session scheduled from July 21 to August 21, alliance leaders are hopeful that political developments in Manipur will progress swiftly. The alliance believes that the timing is critical and that an elected administration should be in place before the conclusion of the session.
In a parallel development, Shiv Sena—one of MDA’s key allies—has reiterated its support for the quick restoration of a civilian government. In a statement, the party listed four key demands: immediate formation of a popular government, the safe return of displaced individuals to their original homes, the restoration of uninterrupted traffic along national highways in line with the Home Ministry’s directive, and a halt to the delimitation process until concerns over undocumented immigrants are addressed.
“No delimitation process should proceed in Manipur before sorting out the illegal immigrant issue,” the Shiv Sena noted in its statement.
As the situation evolves, political observers in the region are closely watching whether the MDA’s assertions will translate into actual power transitions in the coming weeks.
