Imphal: Manipur Congress leaders are fighting the state government over a shortened legislative session. The Manipur Legislative Assembly plans to meet for only three days starting September 2. The Congress Legislature Party labeled the decision unacceptable given the ongoing unrest.
Keisham Meghachandra Singh represented the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee at a Business Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday. He walked out of the room after the government refused to extend the timeline. The party officially filed a dissent note demanding more time to address the state's most pressing problems.
Manipur is reeling. Displacement, the NRC updation process, and a crippling economic blockade remain front and center for residents. Meghachandra argued that these topics deserve a thorough debate on the floor of the House. He pointed to standing provisions that dictate a minimum of 50 sitting days per year for the assembly. The current schedule falls far short of this legal requirement.
Meghachandra blasted the government's approach to the crisis during a press conference following the meeting. He stated, "It was unfortunate that the government had approved only three days of sitting at a time when the state was dealing with multiple challenges." The party insists that lawmakers need more room to voice public grievances and push for real solutions to the conflict.
Updated at 25th August 2026 at 9:51pm
Assembly Secretary Rohit Sapam confirmed the official schedule, which spreads the three sittings across a window from September 2 to September 7. The calendar sets aside the first day for obituary references, report presentations, and the introduction of government bills. Lawmakers will field questions and debate the First Batch of Demand for Supplementary Grants on September 3, before returning on September 7 for the final round of questioning, voting on grants, and the passage of the Appropriation Bill.
Speaker Th Satyabrata chaired the committee meeting that finalized these dates. Meghachandra, representing the Wangkhem constituency, warned that the truncated timeline cripples legislative oversight. He stated, "If we do not have enough sitting days, there will not be any meaningful debate and discussion. If there is no debate, there cannot be healthy democracy and healthy administration." Records show the 12th Assembly previously convened for its seventh session back in March.
Updated at 26th August 2026 at 1:49pm
Meghachandra specifically slammed the condensed schedule as a token session. He argued that the lack of time prevents proper legislative scrutiny and keeps the government from facing real accountability for the current state of affairs.
Official documents confirm the session marks the eighth meeting of the 12th Assembly. Records show lawmakers last met in March for the seventh session.
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