Despite cabinet recommendation, Manipur assembly session not held on Monday

Manipur cabinet recommended Governor Anusuiya Uikey to convene assembly session from Aug 21, but no notification issued yet. Previous session was held in March, but violence broke out in May. Kuki MLAs expressed inability to attend due to violence, while Naga MLAs felt their peace talks hindered.

Despite the Manipur cabinet recommending Governor Anusuiya Uikey convene an assembly session from August 21, the House did not sit on Monday as “no notification” has been issued by Raj Bhavan so far, officials said, creating a dilemma of sorts.

This comes after 10 Kuki MLAs, cutting across party affiliations, had expressed their inability to attend the assembly session as violence in the northeastern State continued.

"For a normal assembly session, a notification has to be issued 15 days before the beginning of it. No such notification has so far been issued by the Governor's office,” an official told PTI.

The State Government had, however, asked for the session after a cabinet meeting held earlier this month.

"The state cabinet has recommended to the Hon'ble Governor of Manipur for summoning the 4th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on the 21st August, 2023," an official statement said on August 4.

The previous assembly session was held in March, and violence broke out in the state in May.

“The last assembly session was adjourned sine die in March. It is a constitutional obligation that the next session must be held before September 2," another official said.