N Satyajeet
Imphal, Jan 22 (UNI) Manipur finds itself at a critical political juncture as the one-year constitutional limit of President’s Rule approaches on February 13, 2026.
The state has remained under central rule since February 13, 2025, amid prolonged instability, and the decisions taken over the next few weeks will have significant constitutional and political implications.
President’s Rule was initially imposed for six months and later extended by another six months from August 13, 2025, bringing the total duration to the maximum one year permitted under Article 356 of the Constitution without extraordinary safeguards.
Any extension beyond this point is no longer a routine parliamentary exercise but requires the fulfilment of two constitutional conditions.
Firstly, the government has to issue a Proclamation of Emergency under Article 352 in India or in Manipur. Secondly, the Election Commission of India has to certify that "the continuance of President's Rule is necessary on account of difficulties in holding general elections to the Legislative Assembly of the State."
The Centre on its part can either extend President's Rule for another six months by fulfilling the constitutional conditions or ensure the return of a popular government.
However, the term of the present Assembly ends in March 2027; hence, bringing back the BJP-led state government would be for a very short duration of just a year and this obviously will weigh in the minds of those who will take the decision.
The BJP leadership in Manipur itself is unsure about what decision the central leadership will eventually arrive at. While, L. Susindro, a former minister, felt that the BJP High Command may not immediately decide to form the government, other BJP MLAs like Sapam Kunjakeswor and Lourembam Rameshwor said there is a strong possibility of the BJP central leadership could favour forming a "popular government."
Congress President K. Meghachandra has suggested the conduct of fresh elections to take a new mandate rather than continue governance through President's Rule.
In the last state assembly polls held in 2022, the BJP won 32 seats, crossing the majority mark of 31 seats and thereby securing an absolute majority on its own, unlike in 2017, when it was not the single largest party and had to depend upon a clutch of parties such as NPP, Naga People’s Front etc., to stake a claim.
The Manipur crisis, which started on May 3, 2023, with the burning of offices, attacks on villagers, and arson in Churachandpur district, became a full-blown conflict between two communities, which led to the displacement of 60,000 people and the deaths of about 260 people from both communities.
Manipur has seen conflicts earlier, such as the Kuki–Hmar conflict, conflict with Nagas, which went on for almost a decade, the Kuki–Paite conflict, and the Meitei–Meitei Pangal conflict. However, the intensity of the current conflict and its duration has puzzled and worried observers.
The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have had to leave their homes because of the conflict, want an early resettlement in their original places within a fixed time frame.
The government has recommended the construction of new houses and rebuilding lives with about Rs 3 lakh per family. But work on this will take time.
As the February 13 deadline approaches, Manipur’s future governance hinges on a decision that must balance constitutional propriety, political realities, and ground-level conditions.
The outcome will not only shape the state’s immediate political trajectory but may also set a broader precedent for the use of President’s Rule in prolonged crises. UNI XC SQ KK