Manipur: Bharatiya Janata Party Projects Assembly Speaker as Leader for Government Reinstatement
The BJP in Manipur is preparing for the reinstatement of a new government and has projected the current Assembly Speaker, Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, as their preferred leader if the central leadership delays the process. The state has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amid the ethnic unrest. The BJP says it expects a government to be formed by November 2025, with MLAs from both valley and hill districts supporting the Speaker.
According to the report, BJP MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei said the following, on the sidelines of a function in Imphal: unless the central leadership allows the formation of a government by November 2025, the BJP and its legislators are backing Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh as the leader of the government.
Key points of the proposal:
• The government would include MLAs from both valley (Meitei majority) and hill (Kuki/Naga) districts — emphasising inclusive representation.
• The Speaker is seen as a consensus figure inside the BJP’s legislative ranks.
• This is described as a “last hope” for the formation of a BJP–led government in Manipur.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why is Manipur still under President’s Rule if the assembly exists?
Manipur’s assembly tenure continues, but the state was placed under President’s Rule on February 13 2025 following the resignation of the Chief Minister and amidst continuing ethnic unrest. Thus, elected MLAs are in place but the executive government is not.
2. Who is Thokchom Satyabrata Singh and what role is he being projected for?
Thokchom Satyabrata Singh is the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and a BJP MLA. He is being projected by the BJP state unit as the potential leader of the new government in Manipur if the central leadership delays approving a chief minister by end of November 2025.
3. Why is November 2025 being cited?
BJP state leaders have given a timeline: they expect the government formation by end of November. This signals urgency and sets a public deadline, likely intended to push the central leadership to act.
4. What are the major obstacles to forming a new government?
Key obstacles include: securing inclusive support across valley and hill districts, managing ongoing ethnic tensions and displacement issues, gaining central BJP approval, ensuring consensus within BJP MLAs, and restoring a sense of stability and governance. Any misstep could destabilise the government before it starts.
5. What does this mean for the people of Manipur?
For citizens, this signals a potential return to elected government and full legislative-executive functioning. But the real measure will be whether the new government addresses urgent issues: displacement, road blockades, development delays, law and order, and ethnic reconciliation. A change in leadership alone is not enough; governance outcomes matter.
