The 8th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced in Imphal on Wednesday with two Kuki‑Zo legislators making their first in‑person appearance in the House since the ethnic violence that began in May 2023. The move ends a gap of roughly three and a half years during which Kuki‑Zo members had not physically participated in Assembly sittings, attending instead through virtual means.
Who returned to the House
Saitu MLA Haokholet Kipgen and Saikul MLA Kimneo Haokip Hangshing were present in the Assembly chamber for the sitting, according to the official reporting of the session. Both legislators had been participating remotely since the outbreak of the conflict in 2023; their physical attendance on Wednesday was described by stakeholders in the House as a notable development in the state's fraught political environment.
"I am happy to be back in the House after a long absence," Haokholet Kipgen said on his return to the Assembly.
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen did not attend in person and joined the proceedings virtually, the Assembly records show.
Government response and stated aims
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh welcomed the physical participation of the two MLAs and characterised it as a positive step towards strengthening unity and peace in Manipur. The Chief Minister attributed the development to the state government's efforts to address the trust deficit among communities and reiterated his administration's stated commitment to inclusive dialogue and reconciliation.
The Chief Minister also linked the return to the changed political context following the formation of the new government on 4 February 2026. Since that change in administration, Kuki‑Zo MLAs had continued to participate in Assembly business but had done so virtually until this session.
Implications for Assembly functioning and local politics
The physical presence of the two Kuki‑Zo legislators may carry both symbolic and practical implications for legislative business in Imphal. Physical attendance can affect quorum calculations, enable direct participation in debates and question hours, and facilitate one‑to‑one engagement between members across communities. It may also be interpreted as a confidence‑building measure in a state where inter‑communal trust has been strained since 2023.
- Representation: Constituents in Saitu and Saikul will now see their MLAs participate face‑to‑face in Assembly sittings.
- Legislative engagement: The presence of members in the chamber enables immediate exchanges during debates and votes, rather than mediated virtual interventions.
- Political signalling: The move has been portrayed by the Chief Minister as an outcome of ongoing efforts at reconciliation by the state government.
Details at a glance
| MLA | Constituency | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Haokholet Kipgen | Saitu | Present in person |
| Kimneo Haokip Hangshing | Saikul | Present in person |
| Nemcha Kipgen | — (Deputy Chief Minister) | Participated virtually |
All statements in the Assembly were reported by official records of the session. No additional attendance or voting details were provided in the initial reporting.
Observers of Manipur politics say sustained physical participation by representatives from all communities will be watched closely as an indicator of progress on reconciliation, but officials emphasise that confidence‑building is an ongoing process. The Chief Minister framed the return of the two MLAs as a welcome sign from people’s representatives and expressed hope that collective efforts would help the state move towards peace.
As the session proceeds in Imphal, the actions and interactions of legislators from across constituencies will be a focus for residents seeking clarity on governance and the prospects for restoring normal political life after the disruption of recent years.
