Imphal: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho has warned that nine Naga legislators may withdraw their support from the Yumnam Khemchand Singh-led government if the state’s security situation continues to deteriorate.
Speaking to the media, Dikho revealed that he and fellow Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen had been tasked with initiating dialogue between conflicting communities to restore peace.
However, Dikho (a Naga) alleged that Kipgen (a Kuki) had failed to undertake similar initiatives, claiming she had neither reached out to the Naga community nor condemned the ongoing violence.
He further alleged that an organisation linked to Kipgen’s husband was directly responsible for stoking the conflict, stating that Naga legislators could not remain part of an administration that harbours individuals aligned with such a mentality.
Addressing the root causes of the crisis, Dikho pointed to unresolved land disputes and illegal immigration.
He said that tensions between the Naga and Kuki communities escalated sharply following the alleged assault of a Tangkhul Naga youth by a Kuki youth at Litan in Ukhrul district in February 2026.
Recalling the clashes between the two groups, Dikho said that the Naga community has no desire for renewed conflict.
He maintained that Nagas had remained strictly neutral during the Meitei-Kuki violence and subsequently joined the government specifically to facilitate peace. While acknowledging that some Kuki leaders want harmony, he alleged that rogue elements continue to fuel the unrest.
Dikho also called for the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, asserting that the pact’s ground rules are being openly flouted.
Turning to administrative issues, the Deputy Chief Minister criticised the prolonged delay in expanding the state Cabinet.
Dikho stated that he had already raised the matter with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who is reportedly waiting for a “signal” from the central leadership.
Dikho argued that a fully functional, collaborative Cabinet could have significantly altered the trajectory of the crisis.
Dikho said that holding upcoming elections would be virtually impossible under the current conditions.
He suggested that the Central government had intentionally delayed the polls to hammer out a legal and political solution, noting that New Delhi remains fully aware of the underlying dynamics driving the crisis.