The Centre, the Manipur government, and the United Naga Council (UNC) have reached a significant agreement following tripartite talks held on Thursday. The parties decided to roll back the state government’s controversial creation of seven new districts, a move that has been in effect since December 2016.
A proposal for this rollback will be presented by state government representatives at the next round of talks scheduled for April 2025, according to an official statement.
“After thorough discussions, it was mutually agreed that a proposal will be presented by representatives of the state government in the next tripartite meeting,” the joint statement indicated.
The meeting, which focused on the implications of the 2016 district creation by the Congress government under former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, was chaired by an Advisor to the Union Home Ministry for the North East. The statement was endorsed by several high-ranking officials, including the Chief Secretary of Manipur and representatives from both the state and central governments.
In December 2016, Manipur expanded from nine to 16 districts with the establishment of seven new districts: Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Pherzawl, Kangpokpi, Jiribam, Kakching, and Noney. This restructuring was implemented amid tensions from an economic blockade enforced by the UNC, which protested against the formation of two new districts, Sadar and Jiribam, claiming they would encroach on the ancestral lands of the Naga community.
As discussions continue, the outcome of the upcoming meeting in April will be closely monitored, as it bears significant implications for the administrative landscape of Manipur.
