A group of 10 MLAs from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) met Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, urging the installation of a popular government in the state. The MLAs claimed to have the support of 44 members in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The delegation included BJP legislators Yumnam Radheshyam Singh, Thockchom Radheshyam Singh, Lourembam Rameshwar Meitei, Thangjam Arunkumar, Kh. Raghumani Singh, Kongkham Robindro Singh, and Paonam Brojen Singh; NPP MLAs Sheikh Noorul Hassan and Janghemliung Panmei; and Independent MLA Sapam Nishikanta. Of the ten, nine hail from the Meitei-majority Valley region, while Panmei represents the Naga community.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Thockchom Radheshyam Singh said the group conveyed to the Governor that the present circumstances and public sentiment demand a return to elected governance.

He added that the support figure excluded 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs and five Congress MLAs. The Assembly currently has 60 seats, with one vacant following the death of an MLA.

The move comes nearly a month after 21 NDA MLAs, including the current 10, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 29, requesting the restoration of an elected government in Manipur. Notably, that earlier appeal did not include former Chief Minister N Biren Singh or his close allies.

In the April letter, the MLAs had criticized the lack of progress since the imposition of President’s Rule on February 13, writing, “There have been no visible actions to bring peace and normalcy in the state. Installation of a popular government is the only means to achieve that.”