A conclave of political parties held in Imphal today resolved to strongly oppose any move to undertake delimitation in Manipur before the conduct of a fresh national census, warning that premature redrawing of constituencies on the basis of disputed data could trigger fresh unrest in the state. The parties also demanded that the next census for Manipur be conducted only after the restoration of normalcy and the completion of essential processes, including the National Register of Citizens and correction of past census anomalies.
The Campaign for Just & Fair Delimitation (JFD) hosted the political parties’ conclave on census and delimitation in Manipur at Lamyanba Shanglen, Konung Mamang today. The event, scheduled from 11 a.m. with a media interaction at 2 p.m., formed part of JFD’s ongoing campaign to build consensus among political parties and civil society on a just and equitable delimitation framework for the state.
Renowned demographer R.K. Narendra, former Professor and Head of Bio-Statistics at RIMS, served as the moderator, providing technical and statistical expertise on census data, while JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba presided over the meeting. Representatives of various political parties then delivered speeches, blending political positions with expert inputs.
The resolutions adopted at the conclave stated that Manipur should not undergo any interim or partial census in 2027. The parties emphasised that the all-India census must be conducted only after the state returns to stability to accurately capture the real demographic reality of Manipur. They also warned that any future delimitation exercise must be based on credible and accurate census data, noting that flawed population figures have already distorted political representation and deepened mistrust among communities.
On the issue of delimitation, the conclave declared that the exercise in Manipur must not be undertaken independently but only as part of the nationwide delimitation process scheduled after the next census. This stance aligns with positions taken by several Manipur-based political parties between March and May 2025. Participants cautioned that proceeding with delimitation amid ongoing ethnic conflict, based on contested 2001 figures, could further polarise Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities and destabilise the fragile situation in the state.
Invoking Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, the conclave urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs not to notify or conduct any special census for Manipur in 2027 unless certain conditions are met: restoration of peace, completion of resettlement of internally displaced persons, return to normal civil administration, and establishment of a robust mechanism to identify illegal immigrants through the NRC or equivalent process. The parties also resolved to press the Government of India collectively, exploring legal and political avenues, including approaching the Supreme Court, to defer any delimitation linked to disputed census data.
The conclave was attended by spokespersons and representatives of at least 12 political parties, including Shiv Sena (Manipur Pradesh), Manipur People’s Party, Republican Party of India (Athawale), Aam Aadmi Party, National People’s Party, GGP, Democratic People’s Front, Bharatiya Janata Party (Manipur Pradesh), Indian National Congress, Janata Dal (United), Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Communist Party of India. Senior leaders such as Shiv Sena senior vice president M. Tikendra, MPP organisation secretary Kh. Sharatchandra, AAP state coordinator Bishwanath Thingnam, NPP national vice president I. Hemochandra, along with representatives of Congress and BJP, signalled a rare multi-party convergence demanding that census and delimitation in Manipur be deferred until credible data and durable peace are ensured.