President’s Rule was imposed on February 13, 2025, after the Chief Minister resigned and the state government was unable to be formed. It was extended by another six months, effective from August 13, 2025, and will now continue until February 2026. This is the 11th time President’s Rule has been imposed in Manipur since 1967. During President’s Rule, governance is handled directly by the central government. The state’s High Courts continue to function as usual. The rule was imposed to restore stability, maintain law and order, and facilitate political dialogue in the state. The current administration is taking steps for the development of the state and has focused on reducing violent incidents. Some organizations have opposed recent state-sponsored events under the current rule.
If a state government fails to function as per constitution, the Centre can intervene under Article 356 by imposing President’s Rule. President’s Rule is also known as State Emergency or Constitutional Emergency. The President assumes extraordinary powers when the President’s Rule is imposed. The President takes over state functions, with the Governor administering on their behalf, assisted by the Chief Secretary and appointed advisors. The State Legislature is suspended or dissolved, with Parliament exercising its powers or delegating law-making authority to the President or a specified body. Laws made during the President’s Rule remain in force unless repealed by the state legislature. The President can authorize expenditure from the State Consolidated Fund until it is approved by Parliament. The President can revoke President’s Rule anytime without parliamentary approval. President’s Rule may continue even without an emergency if elections cannot be held. Article 356 should be amended accordingly.
The Centre has imposed the President Rule in Manipur under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution and suspended the state assembly after the resignation of its Chief Minister. It was expected that Central rule will remove allegations of biased handling of ethnic violence, protecting bothKuki-Zo and Meitei communities. Governor-supervised central forces can prevent ethnic clashes and maintain law & order in the state. Prevents governance erosion by ending internal disputes within the ruling party. Ensures fair relief and rehabilitation for 60,000 displaced people in camps for over 20 months.
Grievances of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Manipur include a lack of rehabilitation, poor living conditions in relief camps, and inadequate government assistance. Specific complaints involve insufficient food, healthcare, and sanitation, disrupted education for children, and a lack of progress on their return home. IDPs complain of a lack of concrete steps for rehabilitation and the return to their homes. Camps are often overcrowded and lack basic privacy and security. Many camps suffer from shortages of clean water, adequate food, and proper sanitation facilities. Access to medical care is often inadequate, and some IDPs report compromising on treatment due to poverty. While relief packages are announced, their implementation is often patchy and insufficient. Children’s education has been disrupted. While some receive free admissions, many still face difficulties and some promised support, like a one-time grant or free smartphones, was not received. Some IDPs face issues with a lack of essential documents like Aadhaar and voter cards. Many IDPs suffer from psychological issues like PTSD and severe anxiety due to the prolonged displacement and trauma. Apart from these IDPs also faces other issues like: Some IDPs rely on odd jobs for survival and live in a hand-to-mouth existence. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. There are on-going demands for the restoration of free movement along highways.
In the on-going chaos that has engulfed Manipur since May 2023; the plight of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) has been overshadowed by the political blame game and theatrics that dominate the discourse. These vulnerable individuals, uprooted from their homes due to ethnic violence and insecurity, are now living in precarious conditions. Yet, their suffering has become a footnote in the larger narrative of political accusations and power struggles.
Manipur’s ethnic conflict has displaced tens of thousands, with many taking refuge in relief camps or makeshift shelters. Families torn apart by the violence are struggling to survive without adequate food, healthcare, or education for their children. Many of these displaced individuals have lost not only their homes but also their livelihoods, leaving them entirely dependent on the state and humanitarian aid. Yet, their voices remain unheard as political leaders focus on scoring points against each other rather than addressing the humanitarian crisis unfolding under their watch.
The ongoing debate over resignation drama within the Manipur government is a case in point. While some demand that the state government step down to expose the Centre’s inaction, others argue that the leadership should remain to provide a semblance of governance. Regardless of these arguments, the real issue—ensuring the safety and rehabilitation of displaced people—has been relegated to the side-lines. This political drama does nothing to alleviate the dire conditions faced by those who have lost everything.
Moreover, the discourse around Manipur’s crisis has increasingly become a battleground for accusations between political parties at both the state and national levels. Allegations of negligence, communal favouritism, and corruption fly thick and fast, but there is little acknowledgment of the suffering of IDPs. These individuals are caught in a cycle of neglect, as neither the Centre nor the state appears willing to prioritize their rehabilitation. Instead, the focus remains on preserving political power and deflecting blame.
The Sangai Festival in Manipur began on Friday (November 21, 2025) amid a protest by internally displaced persons (IDPs) and members of NGOs, impacting attendance. Many are opposing the annual festival, held after two years, as they feel the State government should have resolved the ethnic conflict and resettled the IDPs before organising tourism events. The ethnic conflict between the tribal Kuki-Zo and the non-tribal Meitei communities broke out on May 3, 2023.The protesters clashed with the police for the second successive day on Friday after they tried to storm the festival venue in the State’s capital, Imphal. The police fired tear gas shells to restore order after the protestors’ pelted stones at them. The clashes occurred amid a “cease work” by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei pressure group leading the protest. The organisation criticised the State administration operating under President’s Rule for pushing forward an “anti-people” festival.
Ahead of the protest, Manipur’s RajyaSabha member and titular king accused an IPS officer of storming onto his residential compound. On Thursday (November 20, 2025), the MP lodged a written complaint with Governor, alleging that IGP (Zone-I) had barged into his residential compound at around 1:30 p.m. and threatened security personnel after claiming that he (MP) was sheltering the IDPs.The Manipur police said a mob of approximately 50-60 individuals, identified as COCOMI volunteers, took out a march carrying placards and shouting slogans opposing the festival, defying prohibitory orders issued by the Imphal East district authorities. “Security personnel made repeated attempts to stop and peacefully disperse the protestors. IGP (Zone–I) was on the scene supervising the situation. Police teams, including women personnel, repeatedly tried to stop and disperse the group,” the police said in a statement. The statement further said that the mob turned violent, throwing water bottles and placards at the police while a woman protestor assaulted the IGP and used derogatory racial slurs while he was performing his duty.”The mob later moved toward the palace premises, where house guards of the Hon’ble MP allowed them inside, and hindering police efforts. The IGP approached the gate to question the action of the house guards. He did not enter the premises of the palace,” the police said.
Now, it is the voice of the people that why PR in Manipur? Is PR government is governing the state effectively and efficiently as expected? Why problems of IDPs are not solving? When are they returning to their respective home? Amid many unresolved crisis, why The Sangai Festival? And where is the beauty and lure of such a festival when the people are suffering like hell?
Writer can be reached at:sjugeshwor7@gmail.com