Kuki-Zo groups boycott tribal MLAs in Manipur government, accuse them of ‘betrayal’

Kuki-Zo tribal groups declared a social boycott on Thursday (February 5, 2026) of Kuki-Zo legislators who have joined the newly formed Manipur government of Yumnam Khemchand Singh.

The boycott and a dawn-to-dusk “total shutdown” across the hills inhabited by the Kuki-Zo people, to protest “betrayal” by these MLAs, were enforced hours before the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Assembly began with an address by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

Normal life was hit in Chandel, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Pherzawl districts as protesters rallied with posters calling some Kuki-Zo MLAs “traitors”. There were reports of arson in some of these districts where protesters accused the MLAs of prioritising government formation over pressuring the Centre for a Union Territory-like separate administration for the Kuki-Zo community.

Anger was directed at Nemcha Kipgen, sworn in as a Deputy Chief Minister on Wednesday (February 4, 2026), and two other legislators – former Director General of Police L.M. Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate, who flew to Imphal from New Delhi with other NDA legislators. It was the first such visit by any Kuki-Zo MLA to the State capital since the ethnic conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities broke out in May 2023. All three are Bharatiya Janata Party legislators.

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) said the decision of some Kuki-Zo legislators to join the government was in violation of a resolution adopted unanimously to abstain from government formation till the Central and the State governments gave written political commitment to support a separate administration.

The KZC, apex body of the Kuki-Zo community, said these MLAs were party to the resolution along with leaders of Kuki-Zo social organisations and some rebel groups that had signed the Suspension of Operations agreement with the Centre in August 2008.

“By joining a Meitei-dominated government, these MLAs have effectively aligned themselves with our enemy, disregarding the immense pain and sacrifices endured by the Kuki-Zo community,” the KZC said, viewing their act as a serious betrayal and a deliberate attempt to undermine the unity, sentiments and collective political stand of the Kuki-Zo people.

The KZC urged the Kuki-Zo people not to cooperate or associate with the MLAs in any social, customary, or public matters. “This boycott shall remain in force until they refrain from participation in the Manipur government and realign themselves with the collective position of the Kuki-Zo people,” it added.

The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), however, welcomed Ms. Kipgen’s “historic appointment” as a Deputy Chief Minister and asked her to “uphold the Thadou identity, protect Manipur’s territorial integrity, and disassociate from Kuki tags, organisations, and separatist ideology”.

TIM urged Ms. Kipgen to undo the damage done by aligning with “Kuki-centric narratives” of separatism and supremacism after the ethnic conflict broke out. The Thadous resent their inclusion in the Kuki group.

In his address to the House, the Governor said maintenance of law and order remained the foremost priority of the government. He said coordinated efforts of the Central and State governments, security forces, civil administration, and community institutions enabled Manipur to move towards peace and stability. He acknowledged the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for restoring peace and normalcy in the State.