Congress forms 5 key committees for 2027 Manipur Assembly polls
Synopsis
Congress isn't waiting for the election bell — it has already built its full war room for Manipur 2027. With five committees, four new office-bearers, and three-term former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh leading the charge, the party is making its most structured state-level push in years, in a state it lost in 2022 and urgently needs to win back.
Key Takeaways
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the constitution of five election committees for the 2027 Manipur Assembly elections on 11 November 2026 .
The 28-member Pradesh Election Committee will be led by Manipur Congress President Okram Ibobi Singh , the state's longest-serving CM ( 2002–2017 ).
Three new General Secretaries — Ifam Badur Rahman , N.
Mahananda Singh , and Saniba Waikhom — and a Secretary, Devadutta Singh , have been appointed to the MPCC.
The 60-member Manipur Assembly term expires on 13 March 2027 , making the coming months critical for all parties.
The last Manipur elections were held in two phases on 28 February and 5 March 2022 , won by the BJP .
The Indian National Congress has constituted five dedicated election committees for the 2027 Manipur Assembly elections, signalling an early and structured push to reclaim ground in a state it last governed over seven years ago. The move, approved by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, also includes the appointment of new office-bearers to the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
Key Committees Constituted
The newly formed panels include the Pradesh Election Committee, Campaign Committee, Manifesto Committee, Media and Publicity Committee, and Election Management Committee. Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha member K.C. Venugopal announced the development on Wednesday, 11 November, confirming that President Kharge had approved both the committee structure and additional office-bearer appointments.
The 28-member Pradesh Election Committee will be chaired by Manipur Congress President Okram Ibobi Singh, the state's longest-serving Chief Minister, who held the office for three consecutive terms from 7 March 2002 to 15 March 2017. The 26-member Campaign Committee will be led by senior party leader Lokeshwar Singh, while the 18-member Manifesto Committee will be headed by veteran leader Gaikhangam.
Loken Singh will chair the 16-member Media and Publicity Committee, and M. Okendro will head the Election Management Committee.
New Appointments to MPCC
Three new state General Secretaries — Ifam Badur Rahman, N. Mahananda Singh, and Saniba Waikhom — and a Secretary, Devadutta Singh, have been appointed to bolster the MPCC's organisational capacity. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Manipur, Keisham Meghachandra Singh, along with Lok Sabha members Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and Alfred Kanngam Arthur, have been included in the Pradesh Election Committee.
Leaders Welcome the Move
CLP leader Meghachandra Singh congratulated all newly appointed leaders and took to social media platform X to post: 'Heartiest congratulations to all the leaders appointed to various positions and entrusted with important responsibilities by the AICC.' He further called on the party to 'work together with unity, dedication and collective commitment to strengthen the Congress Party and work for the betterment of the people and the state of Manipur.'
Electoral Timeline and What Is at Stake
The 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly is due to complete its term on 13 March 2027, leaving the party roughly 16 months to consolidate its organisation. The last state elections were held in two phases on 28 February and 5 March 2022, returning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power. This comes amid heightened political sensitivity in Manipur following prolonged ethnic tensions that have kept the state in the national spotlight.
Notably, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is simultaneously preparing to conduct Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Goa early next year, adding to the electoral pressure on all national parties to sharpen their state-level machinery. For Congress, a strong showing in Manipur would be significant after a string of state-level setbacks, making this early structural build-up a strategic priority rather than routine party administration.
Point of View
Whose 15-year tenure carries both authority and baggage, signals continuity over reinvention. The harder question is whether structural committees alone can overcome the BJP's incumbency and the complex ethnic faultlines that defined Manipur's recent political landscape. Committee formation is the starting pistol, not the race itself.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What committees has Congress formed for the 2027 Manipur Assembly elections?
Congress has constituted five committees: the Pradesh Election Committee, Campaign Committee, Manifesto Committee, Media and Publicity Committee, and Election Management Committee. The move was approved by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and announced on 11 November 2026.
Who will lead the Pradesh Election Committee for Manipur?
The 28-member Pradesh Election Committee will be chaired by Manipur Congress President Okram Ibobi Singh, who served as Chief Minister of Manipur for three consecutive terms from 2002 to 2017, making him the state's longest-serving CM.
When is the Manipur Assembly election due?
The 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly's term is set to expire on 13 March 2027. The last elections were held in two phases on 28 February and 5 March 2022, following which the BJP returned to power.
Who are the new office-bearers appointed to the MPCC?
Congress President Kharge appointed three new state General Secretaries — Ifam Badur Rahman, N. Mahananda Singh, and Saniba Waikhom — and a Secretary, Devadutta Singh, to strengthen the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee.
Why is Congress forming these committees so early?
The early committee formation is seen as a strategic move to rebuild the party's organisational machinery in Manipur, where it lost power in 2022. With roughly 16 months to polling, the party aims to use the time to consolidate ground-level structures and prepare a campaign and manifesto well ahead of the election schedule.
