Manipur's Assembly Session Not Held Despite Cabinet Recommendation; Congress Says 'Constitutional Crisis'

Even as a special session of the Manipur Assembly was recommended to be held on August 21 by the state cabinet, the House did not sit on Monday as “no notification” has been issued by Raj Bhavan so far, officials said. The session was to be convened to discuss the ongoing ethnic violence in the state, which first erupted in May. The previous assembly session was held in March.

"The state cabinet has recommended to the Hon'ble Governor of Manipur for summoning the 4th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on the 21st August, 2023," an official statement said on August 4. But the session was not held. This comes after 10 Kuki MLAs, cutting across party affiliations, had expressed their inability to attend the assembly session as violence in the northeastern state continued.

"For a normal assembly session, a notification has to be issued 15 days before the beginning of it. No such notification has so far been issued by the Governor's office,” an official told PTI.

'Constitutional Crisis'

Reacting to the development, Former Manipur Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Okram Ibobi Singh said the failure of the House to sit for the “Monsoon Session” pointed to a constitutional crisis. 

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the Governor not calling the Special Session of the Assembly “is further evidence that the constitutional machinery has simply broken down” in the State. "The PM is preoccupied with refurbishing his self-styled Vishwaguru role and the HM is busy electioneering. The agony of the people of Manipur continues unabated," he said in a post on 'X', formerly Twitter.

Naga MLAs had also said they would not be attending the session as they felt Naga peace talks were being hindered by the state government. Responding to a media query, Chief Minister N Biren Singh had earlier said that the assembly session would be convened before September 2.