Kuki Legislators End Three-Year Absence, Rejoin Manipur Assembly

The eighth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly began in Imphal on Wednesday with a notable development: legislators from the Kuki community were present in the House in person for the first time in more than three years.

Their return marks a symbolic step in the state's political normalisation process, which has been strained since the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities in May 2023. The conflict led to a prolonged boycott of the assembly by Kuki MLAs, who had stayed away from proceedings during the intervening period.

The commencement of the session saw these legislators take their seats, signalling a potential thaw in the political impasse. The assembly is expected to take up legislative business over the coming days, with the presence of the Kuki lawmakers likely to shape the tenor of discussions.

Observers will be watching whether this physical return translates into broader engagement on issues related to the conflict, including demands for separate administration and the rehabilitation of displaced persons. The development, while procedural in form, carries political weight in a state still recovering from deep societal fractures.