Yumnam Khemchand Singh-led NDA govt wins floor test in the Manipur Assembly

Imphal: Yumnam Khemchand Singh-led NDA government won the floor test in the Manipur meeting on Thursday. Yumnam moved the motion of confidence on the presence of MLAs from the valley and Naga-inhabited areas and had some participate virtually.

Kuki Zo groups continued their opposition against Kuki MLAs joining the new government. A community organization called for a complete lockdown of areas where Kuki Zo live on Friday. Protests were held in Kuki Zo areas on Thursday against Nimcha joining the government. On Wednesday night, a group of Kuki Zo people staged a protest against MLAs in the government formation in New Delhi.

An armed group released a video threatening Kuki Zo MLAs and asking them not to join the government.

Khemchand belongs to the Metei community. Nemcha Kipgen, the BJP’s Kuki-Zo MLA from Kangpokpi, was sworn in as deputy chief minister virtually from Delhi. A senior BJP leader, who did not want to be named, said, “Taking into consideration the threat, Kipgen took oath virtually from New Delhi. Kuki and Meteis have not visited each other’s districts since May 3, 2023. Kuki MLAs have not visited Imphal since the violence broke out.”

Khemchand said he would meet the Director General of Police regarding the threats against Kuki Zo MLAs. Additional security personnel have been deployed outside the Kuki MLAs’ residence in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi.

Ten Kuki Zo tribal MLAs, including seven BJP MLAs, along with all leading organizations of the community, are demanding a separate administration or Union territory for tribals in Manipur.
Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) had rejected the formation of any people’s government. KIM stated: “Such a government will be nothing but a Meitei-centered political arrangement, incapable of ensuring peace, justice or reconciliation. On the contrary, it will only embolden the state machinery to continue its agenda of domination, oppression and systematic subjugation of the people of Kuki Zo.” The Kuki Zo Council (KZC) said it would be held responsible for the consequences of such unilateral decisions.

KZC said that the people of Kuki Zo will not participate in the formation of the government.

On Tuesday night, just after the leader’s announcement, unidentified gunmen fired several shots into the air in Churachandpur.

Massive Protest in Churachanpur against Nemcha Kipgen joining the new government.