BJP national secretary may visit Manipur for talks on restoring popular government

Manipur,UPDATED: Nov 11, 2025 00:20 IST

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh is expected to visit Manipur on November 12, where he will hold a series of meetings with party MLAs, leaders, office-bearers and intellectuals to review the political and organisational situation in the state.

The visit assumes added significance amid reports that the Centre and BJP leadership are actively considering reinstating a popular government in Manipur, which has remained under suspended administration since the outbreak of ethnic conflict in May 2023.

According to party sources, Santosh’s visit follows a crucial meeting in New Delhi, where 26 BJP MLAs from Manipur met the party’s top leadership to press for the restoration of an elected government. The legislators reportedly highlighted that prolonged central administration has affected governance and eroded public confidence.

During his visit, Santosh is expected to convey feedback from the central leadership and gather ground-level inputs from party MLAs and district leaders. Discussions are likely to focus on reviving political stability, restoring community trust, and improving law-and-order coordination amid ongoing ethnic tensions.

A senior party functionary said Santosh’s visit “is not routine. He will be reviewing both the political readiness of the party and the administrative feasibility of restoring an elected government in Manipur. His report will play a crucial role in guiding the next course of action.”

During their meeting in Delhi last month, the 26 BJP MLAs held detailed discussions with Santosh and BJP Northeast Coordinator Sambit Patra, submitting a collective memorandum urging the central leadership to take an early decision on reinstating political leadership in the state.

The legislators reportedly argued that the absence of a popular government has led to administrative delays, weakened coordination between civil and security agencies, and hindered rehabilitation efforts for thousands of displaced persons affected by ongoing violence.

One MLA, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the people of Manipur were “losing faith in a bureaucracy-driven administration” and stressed that “political accountability must be restored through an elected government."

Party insiders said Santosh’s visit could pave the way for key political decisions once he reports back to the central leadership. Another senior BJP source indicated that “a decision on reinstating a government could come before the end of this month, possibly ahead of the appointment of a new Manipur BJP president.”

Political observers note that the upcoming visit could mark a turning point in the state’s political landscape. The BJP’s central leadership is reportedly weighing options to rebuild public trust, stabilise governance, and prepare for the 2027 Assembly elections.

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