NEW DELHI: At least 43 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members resigned from the party’s Phungyar Mandal in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Thursday, days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to the state, a party functionary said. Those stepping down from the Naga-majority constituency include the mandal president, heads of the Mahila, Yuva and Kisan morchas, as well as several booth presidents, PTI reported.In a statement, the BJP members said they were “deeply concerned over the present state of affairs within the party” and highlighted “lack of consultation, inclusiveness, and respect for grassroots leadership” as key reasons behind the step.“Our loyalty to the party and its ideology has always been unwavering. We reaffirm our commitment to work for the welfare of our community and the people of Manipur,” it said. PM Modi is likely to visit Manipur and this will be his first since ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities erupted in May 2023, leaving more than 260 dead and thousands displaced. President’s Rule has been in force since chief minister N Biren Singh’s resignation in February.

PM Modi’s likely visit to Manipur

Modi’s likely itinerary—starting in Churachandpur and ending with an address at Kangla Fort in Imphal—reflects an attempt to balance optics and outreach. He is expected to meet displaced families and may announce rehabilitation packages, raising hopes that he will be able bridge the chasm.Churachandpur and Imphal—the symbolic and emotional centers of the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities respectively and this dual engagement is widely seen as a gesture of neutrality, signalling that the centre is deeply concerned about the humanitarian and political crisis, but not taking sides.The conflict, which erupted on May 3, 2023, has deepened the divide between the Meitei community, dominant in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo tribal groups inhabiting the surrounding hills.What began as a protest against the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe status quickly spiralled into full-blown violence, fuelled by long-standing grievances over land rights, political representation, and cultural marginalization. The violence has not only fractured Manipur’s social fabric but also hardened political positions.