Kuki-Zo groups agree to join Manipur government with a rider

Kuki-Zo tribal groups said on Tuesday (January 13, 2026) that they had resolved to join the popular government in Manipur, provided the Central and the State governments give a written commitment to support the negotiated political settlement for a union territory with legislature under the Constitution. 

In a meeting attended by United People’s Front and Kuki National Organisation (KNO), the Kuki-Zo insurgent groups in suspension of operations (SoO) pact with the government, five members of legislative assembly (MLA) and two representatives of the Kuki-Zo Council, a civil society group, in Guwahati on Tuesday (January 13, 2026), it was resolved that the “commitment must be executed in a time-bound manner, specifically within the current Assembly tenure,” which ends in February 2027. 

The resolution passed by the tribal bodies on Tuesday (January 13, 2026) assumes significance as this is the first time the tribal bodies have agreed to join the State government since ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and the Meitei people erupted in the State on May 3, 2023, claiming 250 lives and displacing around 60,000 people. Post-violence, the SoO groups and the MLAs demanded a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo people. 

Manipur was placed under President’s Rule on February 13, 2025, and the 60-member Assembly, which has 37 MLAs from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is under suspended animation.  

The Hindu reported on January 7 that as the President’s Rule in Manipur completes a year on February 13, hectic parleys are on by the Union government to restore the popular government in Manipur. In all, there are 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs in the Assembly, including seven from the BJP, and their participation is key if at all the elected government is restored in the State. 

The resolution stated, “In the absence of such political commitment from both the Central and State governments, the meeting resolves to respect the political will of the people by refraining from taking any part in the formation of an elected government in Manipur. It is resolved that a definitive political solution for the Kuki-Zo people must be achieved before the General Election of 2027.” 

The group resolved that the Central government must expedite the political settlement to fulfill their demand for a union territory with Legislature, including adequate constitutional provisions for the protection of “land ownership.” 

It added that the negotiated political settlement must be finalised and signed before the expiration of the normal tenure of the current Legislative Assembly of the State. 

The BJP leadership has asked all MLAs to be present for a scheduled meeting in Guwahati on Wednesday (January 14, 2026).