'Kuki-Zo aspiration for a separate administration remains'! What is happening in Manipur?

With CM Biren Singh’s exit, the focus shifts to Manipur’s Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs, who now face mounting pressure to push for a separate administration. Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs to meet this week to decide the next course of action after CM Biren Singh’s resignation. Demand for a separate Union Territory with a legislature gains momentum. Civil society groups question the MLAs' commitment to their people’s aspirations.

MLAs in a dilemma

The 10 Kuki-Zomi-Hmar legislators, including seven from the BJP, are set to hold a crucial meeting this week. While the community demands a separate administration, MLAs must navigate party discipline and public pressure. The Kuki-Zo Council and other tribal groups insist that Singh’s resignation does not change their core demand. "Separation is the only solution," said spokesperson Ginza Vualzong, stressing that Kuki-Zo communities have suffered too much to turn back.

Whether Biren resigned or not, the Kuki-Zo aspiration for a separate administration remains. We have been killed, plundered, driven out, and rendered homeless by the Meiteis. There is no returning; separation is the only solution. Only a political solution can redeem the Kuki-Zo.

— Ginza Vualzong (@vualzong) February 10, 2025

The rising demand for a separate administration

Since the ethnic conflict erupted on May 3, 2023, between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, the demand for a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo people has been growing louder. The violence that displaced thousands has deepened the rift between the two communities, with the Kuki-Zo asserting that separation is the only solution. This demand has gained significant traction, especially after the communities were segregated into the Valley and hill areas, further fueling calls for a Union Territory.

Challenges ahead for the MLAs

With the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs now face an unprecedented challenge. While some within the community see his departure as a symbolic victory, the question remains whether the MLAs can truly champion the demand for a separate administration or if they will be swayed by party loyalty. According to sources close to the situation, many of the MLAs are grappling with the conflicting interests of supporting their party and aligning with their constituents' aspirations.

Viable solution for safety

"We need to act in the best interests of the Kuki-Zo people, but party loyalty is not easy to overlook," said one of the MLAs, emphasizing the delicate balancing act ahead. The Kuki-Zomi-Hmar legislators recognize that they are under significant pressure from civil society organizations, many of which have repeatedly called for a separate Union Territory as the only viable solution to ensure the safety and rights of the Kuki-Zo communities.

Civil Society’s unwavering stand

Organizations like the Kuki-Zo Council and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum have been vocal in their support for a separate administration. The spokesperson for the Kuki-Zo Council, Ginza Vualzong, has made it clear that the Kuki-Zo aspiration for a separate administration remains unchanged, despite the political changes within the state government.

"We have been killed, plundered, driven out, and rendered homeless by the Meiteis. There is no returning; separation is the only solution,"Vualzong said, expressing the deep anguish felt by many in the community. He reiterated that a political solution, not just a change in leadership, would be necessary to bring about peace and justice for the Kuki-Zo people.

Looking forward

As the MLAs prepare for their meeting this week, there is a growing sense of urgency within the Kuki-Zo community. The resolution of the crisis hinges not just on the future leadership but on whether the state’s elected representatives can stand up to the political pressures and deliver on the aspirations of their people. The coming days will be crucial as the future of Manipur’s political landscape hangs in the balance. The MLAs' decisions could either chart a new path toward autonomy for the Kuki-Zo community or further entrench the region's political and ethnic divide