Kuki-Zo MLAs attend Manipur Assembly in person for first time in 3 years
Synopsis
For the first time since Manipur's devastating ethnic violence began in May 2023, two Kuki-Zo MLAs physically entered the Imphal Assembly — defying their own apex body's boycott directive. It is a fragile signal of thaw, but the Kuki Inpi Manipur's demand for a separate political administration remains firmly on the table, making this less a resolution and more a test of the state government's next move.
Key Takeaways
Haokholet Kipgen (Saitu) and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing (Saikul) attended the Manipur Legislative Assembly in person on 2 September — the first Kuki-Zo MLAs to do so since 3 May 2023 .
The attendance defied a 31 August directive by the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) , which had ordered all Kuki-Zo MLAs to stay away pending a political settlement.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh called the development 'a good sign' and linked it to the government's reconciliation efforts.
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen , also Kuki-Zo, attended the session in virtual mode .
The Kuki-Zo community has 10 legislators in the 60-member Assembly, including 6 BJP MLAs , and has been demanding a union territory with legislature for tribal areas of Manipur.
Two legislators from the Kuki-Zo community attended the Manipur Legislative Assembly session in person on Wednesday, 2 September, marking the first physical participation by hill-region MLAs in the House since ethnic violence erupted in the state on 3 May 2023 — a gap of more than three years. The development came during the opening sitting of the eighth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly in Imphal.
Who Attended and What They Said
Haokholet Kipgen, MLA from the Saitu Assembly Constituency, and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, MLA from the Saikul Assembly Constituency, were physically present in the chamber. As he entered the Assembly, Haokholet Kipgen said he was 'happy to return to attend the Assembly session after a long time.' Notably, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, also from the Kuki-Zo community, attended the session in virtual mode.
Chief Minister's Welcome
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh welcomed the development, calling it a positive step. 'This is a good sign from the people's representatives, and it is a welcome step,' he said. Singh attributed the breakthrough to the state government's persistent efforts to reduce the trust deficit among communities, reiterating his administration's commitment to 'inclusive dialogue, reconciliation and restoration of lasting peace and normalcy' in the conflict-hit state.
Kuki Apex Body's Contrary Directive
The attendance, however, came in defiance of a directive issued by the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of the Kuki tribal community, on 31 August. KIM had firmly asked all Kuki-Zo MLAs not to travel to Imphal for the eighth session, pending a political settlement of the community's demand for a Separate Administration. In its statement, KIM argued that participation in the Assembly 'at a time when the fundamental political question concerning the future of the Kuki-Zo people remained unresolved would be inconsistent with the collective political position and aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people.' The body added: 'There can be no return to business as usual without a political solution.'
Background: Three Years of Conflict and Boycott
Ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities broke out on 3 May 2023, triggering a prolonged crisis that has left the state deeply divided along ethnic lines. Since then, a majority of the 10 Kuki-Zo legislators in the 60-member Assembly — including six Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs — had boycotted in-person sessions and rarely ventured into the Imphal Valley. Following the formation of the new BJP government under Chief Minister Khemchand Singh on 4 February 2026, a few Kuki-Zo MLAs had begun participating in previous sittings via virtual mode, but Wednesday marked the first physical return.
The Demand for Separate Administration
Kuki-Zo organisations have long demanded a union territory with a legislature for the tribal people of Manipur. KIM's directive underscored that this political demand remains unresolved, and that resuming normal legislative participation without a settlement risks undermining the community's collective bargaining position. The two MLAs who attended on Wednesday did so despite that directive, signalling a potential fracture — or a calculated political move — within the community's unified front.
Whether Wednesday's attendance represents a durable thaw or an isolated gesture will depend on whether the Centre and the state government move meaningfully on the Kuki-Zo political demand in the sessions ahead.
Point of View
But it should not be read as a political breakthrough. The Kuki Inpi Manipur's directive was unambiguous, and the defiance of two legislators does not dissolve the community's unified demand for separate administration — it complicates it. Chief Minister Khemchand Singh's framing of this as a product of government outreach is politically convenient, but the harder question is what concrete movement, if any, has occurred on the union territory demand. Without a credible federal response to that demand, the risk is that Wednesday's attendance becomes a tool to declare normalcy where none yet exists.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Kuki-Zo MLAs' attendance at the Manipur Assembly significant?
Two Kuki-Zo MLAs physically attended the Manipur Legislative Assembly on 2 September for the first time since ethnic violence broke out on 3 May 2023 — a gap of more than three years. During this period, Kuki-Zo legislators had largely boycotted in-person sessions and avoided the Imphal Valley due to the ongoing conflict with the Meitei community.
Which Kuki-Zo MLAs attended the Manipur Assembly session in person?
Haokholet Kipgen, MLA from Saitu Assembly Constituency, and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, MLA from Saikul Assembly Constituency, were physically present. Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, also from the Kuki-Zo community, participated in virtual mode.
What did the Kuki Inpi Manipur say about the Assembly session?
The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of the Kuki tribal community, issued a directive on 31 August asking all Kuki-Zo MLAs not to travel to Imphal for the session. KIM argued that participating in the Assembly without a political settlement on the community's demand for Separate Administration would be 'inconsistent with the collective political position' of the Kuki-Zo people.
What is the Kuki-Zo demand for Separate Administration?
Kuki-Zo organisations have been demanding a union territory with a legislature for the tribal people of Manipur, seeking a distinct political arrangement separate from the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley administration. This demand has been the central political flashpoint since the ethnic conflict began in May 2023.
How did the Manipur Chief Minister respond to the Kuki-Zo MLAs' attendance?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh welcomed the development, calling it 'a good sign from the people's representatives.' He attributed it to the state government's efforts to address trust deficits among communities and reaffirmed his administration's commitment to inclusive dialogue and reconciliation.
