BJP appoints central observer for election of Manipur legislature party leader; new govt likely soon
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP Parliamentary Board on Monday appointed party national general secretary Tarun Chugh as the central observer for the election of the legislature party leader in Manipur, indicating the possible formation of a popular government in the Northeastern state.
The move came as NDA MLAs from Manipur arrived in the national capital after being summoned by the BJP central leadership, ostensibly to discuss the formation of government in the state where the current spell of the President's rule will expire next week.
"The BJP Parliamentary Board has appointed Tarun Chugh, National General Secretary, as Central Observer for the election of the Legislature Party Leader in Manipur," party national general secretary Arun Singh said in a statement.
Manipur has been under the President's rule since February 13, 2025, following months of ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities.
The central rule was imposed after the BJP-led government headed by Biren Singh resigned on February 9, 2025. The 60-member state assembly, whose tenure is till 2027, was put under suspended animation.
The BJP legislature party meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday. It is likely to be held at the party headquarters in Delhi.
Nearly 20 MLAs arrived on Sunday night, while others reached here on Monday following the direction of the BJP leadership.
The legislature party meeting will be held days ahead of the expiry of the second spell of the President's rule, which was first imposed on February 13, 2025, for six months and then extended for another six months in August 2025.
Those who have arrived in the national capital include former chief minister N Biren Singh, Assembly Speaker Satyabrata Singh and former minister Y Khemchand Singh. BJP state president A Sharda Devi is also in Delhi.
The BJP central leadership had held several rounds of separate meetings with its Meitei and Kuki MLAs, allies NPF and NPP and a few Independent legislators over the last few months to gauge their views on whether the political situation was conducive for the formation of a popular government, the sources said.
On December 14, 2025, BJP's national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh and the party's Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra met BJP MLAs from both the warring Meitei and Kuki communities in Delhi under one roof.
Currently, there are 37 BJP MLAs in Manipur. Originally, a total of 32 BJP MLAs had won the 2022 assembly elections.
The JD(U) had won six seats, and five of its MLAs later defected to the BJP, taking the strength of the saffron party to 37.
Among the other MLAs, six are from the National People's Party (NPP), five from the Naga People's Front, five from the Congress, two from the Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) , one from Janata Dal (United) and three Independents. There is one vacant seat following the death of a sitting MLA.
After the imposition of the President's rule, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla had taken a number of steps to restore peace and bring back normalcy, including asking those who looted arms from security forces to surrender them.
The ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities started in May 2023 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
At least 260 people lost their lives and thousands were displaced during the violence.
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Two wanted criminals held after encounter in UP's Meerut
Meerut (UP) (PTI): Two wanted criminals, each carrying a reward of Rs 25,000, were arrested following an encounter with the police in the Jani area in the early hours of Tuesday, officials said.
The accused, identified as Salim alias Sultan alias Sheikhchilli, a resident of of Meerut, and Dilshad alias Bhuri, a native of Bahraich district presently living in Ghaziabad. Both wanted for a robbery in Mundali village on January 21.
According to the police, the incident began during a vehicle check in the Sarurpur area on Monday night. Police team signalled a grey car to stop, but the driver sped away towards Bhola Jhal.
In response, Jani police set up a barricade along the Ashram canal embankment and intercepted the vehicle. Upon being stopped, the occupants allegedly opened fire at the police team.
In the retaliatory action that followed, the car driver lost control and rammed into a tree. The accused then attempted to flee on foot. Police fired in self-defence, resulting in both men sustaining gunshot wounds to their legs. They were apprehended in an injured condition and admitted to a hospital.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement in the robbery and told the police they were heading towards Delhi to evade arrest.
Two .315 bore country-made pistols, three live cartridges, two spent cartridges, three stolen gold earrings, Rs 10,050 in cash and a car were seized from them. The police added that the vehicle was purchased using money from the robbery.
