Manipur CM proposes 36-community committee for peace and unity
Synopsis
With Manipur still scarred by ethnic conflict, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has proposed a committee representing all 36 of the state's communities — a move he says was prompted by a direct query from PM Modi. The announcement, made at the Mera Hou Chongba festival alongside the inauguration of a ₹7.12 crore Hill Chiefs' Guest House, is the state's most visible institutional push yet to bridge its deep hill-valley divide.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh announced plans on 24 October 2026 to form a committee representing all 36 communities of the state to promote unity and peace.
The initiative was prompted by a query from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on whether such a body existed.
The CM will consult Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba and all MLAs before formally constituting the committee.
A Hill (Tribal) Chiefs' Guest House was inaugurated at Palace Compound, Imphal , at a cost of approximately ₹7.12 crore under the NEC scheme.
Both developments occurred during the Mera Hou Chongba Festival 2026 , a traditional festival of unity between hill and valley communities.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday, 24 October 2026, announced that the state government would take steps to constitute a committee representing all 36 communities of Manipur to foster unity, peace and harmony across the conflict-affected state. The announcement came at a felicitation ceremony for hill chiefs at the Darbar Hall of the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Imphal.
The Committee Proposal
Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said the initiative was prompted by a query from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who asked whether a body existed to bring all of Manipur's communities together. The Chief Minister said he would consult Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba and all Members of the Legislative Assembly before finalising the committee's composition, and appealed to the public to extend their support.
The proposed committee is intended to foster a cohesive environment among the state's diverse communities and promote inclusive development alongside peace and harmony, according to the Chief Minister's remarks.
Hill Chiefs' Guest House Inaugurated
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Hill (Tribal) Chiefs' Guest House at Palace Compound, Imphal, constructed at a sanctioned cost of approximately ₹7.12 crore under the North Eastern Council (NEC) scheme, with financial support from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). The facility marks a concrete step towards strengthening ties between Manipur's hill and valley communities.
Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba, current head of the royal family of the erstwhile princely state, noted that hill chiefs travelling to Imphal for the festival had previously been compelled to stay in hotels. He said the new facility would be remembered by the people of Manipur as a symbol of the state government's commitment to inclusivity.
Chief Minister Khemchand Singh credited the Maharaja's persistent advocacy with the state government as instrumental in seeing the project to completion.
Mera Hou Chongba Festival 2026
Both inaugurations were part of the Mera Hou Chongba Festival 2026, a traditional celebration rooted in Manipur's cultural heritage that promotes unity, brotherhood and peaceful coexistence among the state's hill and valley communities. The Chief Minister expressed happiness that many people from the hill areas — including those who had in previous years been reluctant to travel to Imphal — participated in the festival this year.
Khemchand Singh invoked significant historical milestones, including the Anglo-Manipur War and the Seven Years' Devastation, to underscore the collective sacrifices made by all 36 communities in defending the state's land, identity and cultural heritage. He expressed hope that Mera Hou Chongba 2026 would usher in renewed peace and prosperity for Manipur.
Context: Manipur's Ongoing Ethnic Tensions
The announcements carry added weight given that Manipur has experienced prolonged ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, leaving the state deeply polarised. This is the backdrop against which Prime Minister Modi's query about a pan-community committee is particularly significant. Notably, the guest house and the proposed committee represent the state government's most visible institutional steps in some time aimed at bridging the hill-valley divide.
Khemchand Singh also recalled that the Maharaja of Manipur had historically spent more than 100 days a year in the hill areas — a tradition he held up as a model of the inter-community engagement he hopes to revive.
What Comes Next
The Chief Minister has committed to consulting the Maharaja and legislators before the committee is formally constituted, though no specific timeline has been announced. The success of the initiative will depend significantly on whether communities currently at odds agree to participate, making the coming weeks a critical window for the state government's outreach.
Point of View
No mandate, no enforcement mechanism has been announced. Manipur's ethnic fault lines run deeper than any consultative body can quickly bridge, and the communities most estranged from the valley are precisely those whose buy-in is hardest to secure. That the idea originated with a PM query rather than a ground-up reconciliation process raises questions about whether it reflects genuine political will or a response to optics pressure from Delhi. The real measure will be whether the committee, if formed, has the authority to do anything beyond issuing statements of solidarity.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 36-community committee proposed by Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh?
It is a proposed consultative body to represent all 36 recognised communities of Manipur, aimed at promoting unity, peace and inclusive development across the state. Chief Minister Khemchand Singh announced the plan on 24 October 2026 and said he would consult Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba and all MLAs before constituting it.
Why did the Manipur CM propose this committee?
The Chief Minister said the initiative followed a query from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who asked whether a committee existed to bring all of Manipur's communities together. It comes against the backdrop of prolonged ethnic tensions in the state since May 2023.
What is the Hill (Tribal) Chiefs' Guest House inaugurated in Imphal?
It is a newly constructed facility at Palace Compound, Imphal, built at a sanctioned cost of approximately ₹7.12 crore under the North Eastern Council (NEC) scheme with support from the Ministry of DoNER. It provides a dedicated space for hill community leaders visiting Imphal, replacing the need to stay in commercial hotels during events like Mera Hou Chongba.
What is Mera Hou Chongba?
Mera Hou Chongba is a traditional cultural festival of Manipur that celebrates unity, brotherhood and peaceful coexistence among the state's diverse hill and valley communities. The 2026 edition was the occasion for both the guest house inauguration and the community committee announcement.
When will the proposed 36-community committee be formed?
No specific timeline has been announced. Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said he would first hold consultations with Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba and all Members of the Legislative Assembly before moving forward with the committee's formal constitution.
