In a significant political development in Manipur, the Integrated Tribal Labour Union (ITLF) has firmly stated that Kuki-Zo legislators will not participate in the state’s government formation process. This announcement comes amid escalating ethnic tensions between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki-Zo groups, which have plunged the northeastern state into prolonged unrest.
The ITLF, a prominent body representing Kuki-Zo interests, issued a strong declaration emphasizing their community’s complete boycott of any Biren Singh-led government. ‘No Kuki-Zo MLA will join the government or support it from outside,’ the union asserted, underscoring deep-seated grievances over alleged state-sponsored violence against tribals.
This stance marks a decisive break from previous political alignments. Manipur’s assembly elections earlier this year saw the BJP securing a majority, with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh retaining power. However, Kuki MLAs, who hold key seats in hill districts, have now distanced themselves entirely, refusing to lend legitimacy to the administration accused of fueling ethnic clashes.
Background to the conflict reveals a volatile mix of land rights disputes, reservation demands, and demographic anxieties. Since May 2023, over 200 lives have been lost, thousands displaced, and villages razed in clashes that pitted valley-dwelling Meiteis against hill-based Kukis. The ITLF accuses the government of bias, arming Meitei militias while neglecting tribal security.
Political analysts view this exclusion as a strategic move to isolate the BJP politically in tribal belts. With 10 Kuki-dominated seats in the 60-member assembly, their abstention weakens the ruling coalition’s moral authority. Opposition voices, including Congress, have called for President’s Rule, arguing the state government has lost control.
As Manipur grapples with fragile peace initiatives, the ITLF’s position signals no quick reconciliation. Community leaders demand autonomous tribal councils and withdrawal of central forces perceived as partial. The coming months will test whether this boycott leads to constitutional crises or forces fresh political realignments in the strife-torn state.