Kuki-Zo

Manipur's government has deferred expansion of its Council of Ministers amid continuing violence and security concerns, with further appointments reportedly likely to be considered after the October Durga Puja period.

Manipur politics is intensifying ahead of the 2027 Assembly election as the Centre defers the Census amid demands for an NRC first, bringing citizenship, migration, displacement and electoral delimitation into the centre of the political debate.

The Centre has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, across most of Manipur for another six months from October 1, 2026, while excluding areas under 13 police stations in five districts. The decision comes amid continuing security concerns and ahead of the 2027 Manipur Assembly election.

Manipur's political landscape is becoming increasingly active ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, with demands for an NRC before the Census, the Centre's deferment of Census house-listing, regional-party coordination and the return of two Kuki-Zo MLAs to the Assembly emerging as major political developments.

The demand to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before conducting the Census has become a major political issue in Manipur ahead of the 2027 Assembly election. The Centre deferred the Census exercise in the state after discussions over the NRC demand, while Kuki-Zo organisations have opposed conducting an NRC before the Census. The debate is closely linked to concerns over migration, demographic change, citizenship documentation and the future delimitation of Assembly constituencies.

Manipur is heading toward the 2027 Assembly election amid increased electoral preparations and continuing political discussions over security, electoral rolls, NRC-related demands and governance. With the Assembly term ending in March 2027, political parties and election authorities are preparing for the next major electoral contest in the state.