7th Session of Manipur Legislative Assembly Begins; Six Kuki-Zo MLAs Participated via Virtual Mode

The seventh session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly which was adjourned sine die on 5th February, 2026 resumed in the Assembly Hall today. The session commenced with obituary speeches by sitting Members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

​Six of the nine Kuki-Zo MLAs attended the budget session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly in virtual mode/video conference. A TV screen inside the floor of the assembly displayed the attendance of the six tribal MLAs live. Those Kuki-Zo MLAs who attended the first day of the session include Deputy Chief Minister, Smt Nemcha Kipgen; LM Khaute, MLA, 58-Churachandpur (ST) Assembly Constituency; Letzamang Haokip, MLA, 57-Henglep Assembly Constituency; Ngursanglur Sanate, MLA, 55-Tipaimukh (ST) Assembly Constituency; Smt Kimneo Haokip Hansing, MLA, 46-Saikul (ST) Assembly Constituency and Haokholet Kipgen, MLA, 51-Saitu (ST) Assembly Constituency. Khaute even participated in the debate for obituary reference.

Members cutting across party lines have expressed their deepest and profound sorrow to the demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India; La. Ganesan, former Governor of Manipur; Thoudam Debendra, former Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly from 40-Jiribam Assembly Constituency; BD Behring, former Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly from 41-Chandel (ST) Assembly Constituency; Henam Lokhon Singh,  former Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly from 18-Konthoujam Assembly Constituency; Vungzagin Valte, former Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly from 56-Thanlon (ST) Assembly Constituency; Dr. Khasim Ruivah, former Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly from 45-Chingai (ST) Assembly Constituency; N. Kaiyisii, sitting Member of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly from 49-Tadubi Assembly Constituency; Thangminlen Kipgen, former Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly from 50-Kangpokpi Assembly Constituency; Meinam Bhorot Singh, former Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly from 9-Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency; Peter Pheirei, former Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly from 45-Chingai (ST) Assembly Constituency; Smt. Aribam Bimola, former Member of Manipur State Territorial Assembly, 1967; Yumnam mani Singh, former Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly from 22-Wangoi Assembly Constituency; Thokchom Babu Singh, former Secretary of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat and Rajkumar Modhusana, former Secretary of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat.

Leader of the House, Chief Minister, Yumnam Khemchand Singh told the DIPR Manipur that attendance of the assembly session by the Kuki-Zo-Hmar MLAs is a positive step towards the normalisation of the current situation in the state. He added that this is a good beginning and everyone should encourage it.  

Speaker of State Assembly, Thokchom Satyabrata Singh told the DIPR Manipur that it is a welcome step. He said that six Kuki-Zo MLAs attended the first day of the budget session. He also said that during the trust vote of Chief Minister, Y. Khemchand on February 5 last, three Kuki-Zo MLAs, Smt Nemcha Kipgen, Shri L M Khaute and Ngusanglur Sanate participated in the session through video conference.

The Speaker later informed the House that Letpao Haokip had sought leave of absence during the budget session as he was ill. The house unanimously agreed to grant him the leave.

Meanwhile, official sources said that the state government had earlier made elaborate arrangements for the Kuki-Zo-Hmar MLAs to participate in the budget session through video conference. Preparations were made at NIC Kangpokpi, NIC Churachandpur, Manipur Bhawan Guwahati and New Delhi to enable the tribal MLAs attend the assembly session.

Participating in the debate on the obituary reference to former Prime Minister, late Manmohan Singh, former Manipur Governor, late La Ganesan and ten former MLAs, a Churachandpur constituency MLA, L M Khaute said that he was speaking to the house through video conference. He then took time to pay tribute to those former legislators. He said that Vungzagin Valte died in tragic circumstances and he had worked for the development of his Thanlon constituency.

During the session, Speaker of the House, Thokchom Satyabrata Singh moved a resolution regarding the demises and expressed his deep and profound sorrow. The House adopted a resolution to condole the demises and observed a 2-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls.

Leader of the House, Y. Khemchand Singh initiated the obituary reference stating that the demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India is a great loss to the Nation. He also said that the former Governor La. Ganesan during his short tenure had done a lot of work for the State. He added said that the demise of sitting MLA Vungzagin Valte due to an unfortunate incident was deeply condoled.

Participating in the obituary reference, O. Ibobi Singh, Senior Member of the House expressed his condolences to the demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India; La. Ganesan, former Governor of Manipur; former Members of Manipur Legislative Assembly; former Member of Manipur State Territorial Assembly, 1967 and former Secretaries of Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat. He expressed his deep and profound sorrow on the demises of all the persons who had given their contributions in their respective fields.

K. Meghachandra, Kh. Joykisan, Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh, S. Rajen Singh, Khasim Vashum, Awangbow Newmai, M. Rameshwar, Ram Muivah, Karam Shyam, Th. Shyamkumar, S. Kunjakeswor Singh, Md. Abdul Nasir, Smt. SS. Olish, L.M. Khaute, Th. Shanti Singh and K. Loken Singh also participated in the obituary reference and express their deep sorrow on their demise. (DIPR)