Manipur Congress Committee President Keisham Meghachandra. File | Photo credit: ANI
Manipur Congress President Keisham Meghachandra on Wednesday (Dec 31, 2025) said the only means to restore peace and normalcy in the ethnic strife-torn state in 2026 is to dissolve the assembly and hold fresh elections.
Mr. Meghachandra told reporters, “While everyone else everywhere is celebrating the New Year, we are not seeing these celebrations in Manipur. The only solution for the welfare of the people of the state is the dissolution of the present assembly. Our demand is the dissolution of the assembly and a fresh mandate. It is the only way to bring peace and normalcy in the state.”
Mr. Meghachandra also said, “The ongoing crisis has exposed the inability of the current dispensation to address the aspirations and grievances of the people.” The Congress leader also expressed hope that the new year would bring clarity, justice and humane political change for lasting peace in Manipur.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Tongbram Robindro told reporters, “We had several festivals and celebrations, including the Sangai festival, the Orange festival, Christmas and our own Emoin Meitei festival in November and December.”
“At this festive season, I appeal to all people across communities to forgive and forget all differences and misunderstandings and return to earlier peace, normality and cordial relations with the arrival of the new year,” Mr Robindro said.
Manipur has been under President’s rule since February 13 after the then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who headed the BJP-led government, resigned on February 9 following ethnic violence that claimed over 260 lives since May 2023.
The 60-member state assembly, which has a term of office until 2027, has been suspended. Following the imposition of President’s rule, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla took a number of steps to restore peace and normalcy, including asking those who had looted arms from the security forces to surrender them.
The violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities began after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Published – 31 December 2025 17:30 IST
