Manipur: Kuki-Zo MLAs, SoO groups refute claims of supporting new 'popular govt'

Imphal: Kuki-Zo armed groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO), the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front, along with the governments at the Centre and the state, have jointly refuted the news report published on November 16, 2025, alleging that Kuki-Zo MLAs have decided to join the formation of a “popular Ministry” in place of the existing President’s Rule in Manipur.

In a joint statement on Monday, the two SoO signatories said, “We did not take any such decisions, nor did we make any commitment to be part of any future government formation.”

The statement said the media report asserting that “the Kuki-Zo MLAs should join any popular Ministry” completely misrepresents the proceedings and distorts the political stance of the Kuki-Zo community.

The statement clarified that the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) held a general conference on November 15, 2025, in Guwahati to discuss critical issues.

However, the statement added that the conference did not adopt any official resolution or decision committing the Kuki-Zo MLAs to join a future popular government.

It further stated that the discussion focused primarily on the urgent demand for a UT with a Legislature, adding that the report misrepresents the internal deliberations.

The Kuki-Zo MLAs and the collective Kuki-Zo leadership remain committed to achieving this political demand as their foremost priority.

In the sixty-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, there are ten Kuki-Zo MLAs. They skipped three consecutive sessions in the past to press their demand for creating “Kukiland,” a separate region to be carved out of Manipur.

Representatives of almost all Kuki-Zo organisations, including Kuki Inpi Manipur, CoTU, ITLF, Kuki-Zo militants under the SoO agreement and groups outside it, along with Kuki volunteers, women’s societies, and other CSOs, attended the general conference organised by the Kuki-Zo Council.

Of the total ten Kuki-Zo MLAs, seven attended the conference.

Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and representatives of Kuki-Zo armed groups under the SoO, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and the United People's Front, held talks on November 6 and 7, 2025, focusing on the core demand for a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly.

The discussions also covered a wide range of issues concerning the tribal people, and the government outrightly rejected the demand.