Imphal: Two legislators from the Kuki-Zo community attended the Manipur Legislative Assembly session in person Wednesday for the first time in more than three years.
The eighth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced in Imphal Wednesday, marked by the significant development that MLAs from the hill regions belonging to the Kuki-Zo community physically attended the proceedings for the first time since ethnic violence broke out in the state May 3, 2023.
Haokholet Kipgen, MLA from the Saitu Assembly Constituency, and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, MLA from the Saikul Assembly Constituency, were physically present during the first sitting of the session Wednesday.
Their attendance in the House comes after a gap of more than three years, during which representatives from the Kuki-Zo community had not physically participated in the Assembly proceedings in Imphal.
As he entered the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Haokholet Kipgen said that he was happy to return to attend the Assembly session after a long time.
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, however, attended the session in virtual mode.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh welcomed the development, describing it as a positive step towards fostering unity and peace in the state. “This is a good sign from the people’s representatives, and it is a welcome step,” he said.
Khemchand Singh said that with collective efforts from all sections of society, Manipur could strive to move forward on the path of peace and reconciliation.
The Chief Minister further attributed the development to the state government’s persistent efforts to address issues and reduce the trust deficit among the various communities. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to inclusive dialogue, reconciliation and restoration of lasting peace and normalcy in the violence-hit state.
It may be recalled that following the formation of the new BJP government under the leadership of Chief Minister Khemchand Singh February 4, 2026, a few Kuki-Zo MLAs had participated in previous Assembly sittings through the virtual mode.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), an apex body of the Kuki tribal community, had August 31 issued a firm directive to all Kuki-Zo MLAs, asking them not to travel to Imphal to attend the eighth session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly pending a political settlement of the Kuki-Zo people’s demand for Separate Administration.
The KIM, in a statement, said it wanted to make clear that the participation of Kuki-Zo MLAs in the Manipur Legislative Assembly at a time when the fundamental political question concerning the future of the Kuki-Zo people remained unresolved would be inconsistent with the collective political position and aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people.
The Kuki-Zo people, it said, have made their political aspirations clear, and their demand for a separate political administration is not an issue that can simply be set aside while normal legislative proceedings are resumed as though the prevailing political crisis has already been resolved.
“There can be no return to business as usual without a political solution,” the KIM said in its directive.
The KIM, therefore, called upon every Kuki-Zo MLA to demonstrate political responsibility, solidarity and fidelity to the mandate and aspirations of the people they represent by strictly adhering to the directive.
The Kuki-Zo organisations have been demanding a union territory with a legislature for the tribal people in Manipur as part of their demand for a separate political administration. The community has 10 legislators in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, including Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and six other BJP MLAs.
Since ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities May 3, 2023, a majority of the MLAs belonging to the tribal community have been boycotting Assembly sessions and have rarely visited the Imphal Valley region.
