Political parties in Manipur convened in Imphal to unite against the proposed delimitation before a new national census, asserting that proceeding with constituency redrawing based on dubious or outdated data could incite further instability in the state. The conclave, arranged by the Campaign for Just & Fair Delimitation (JFD), emphasized the need for a census only after peace is restored and after addressing issues such as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and correcting historical census inaccuracies.
During the meeting, which included media interaction, discussions moderated by demography expert R.K. Narendra explored the implications of census data, while JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba led the proceedings. Party leaders expressed that a census should reflect the true demographic situation of Manipur, and resolutions taken at the conclave categorically rejected any interim census in 2027, insisting that an all-India census be conducted only when the state achieves stability, to ensure accurate representation.
The participants contended that delimitation should not be a separate exercise for Manipur but part of the nationwide process following the census, warning against further ethnic division among Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities, particularly under current tensions and reliance on the controversial 2001 census data. They invoked Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, urging the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to avoid any special census in 2027 unless conditions—such as restoring peace, resettling internally displaced persons, and reestablishing normal civil governance—are met, alongside a credible mechanism to identify illegal immigrants like the NRC.
The conclave resolved to engage the Government of India through political channels and, if necessary, legal avenues including the Supreme Court, to prevent delimitation based on contentious census data. The meeting witnessed participation from representatives of at least twelve political parties, including notable figures from Shiv Sena, Manipur People’s Party, Aam Aadmi Party, BJP, and Congress, marking a significant cross-party collaboration in advocating for postponing census and delimitation until reliable data is available and enduring peace is established.
