The Manipur governor has summoned the much-awaited session of the state Assembly on August 29.

The Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat issued a communiqué to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) on Monday but it became public on Tuesday afternoon.

Robert Laitonjam, deputy secretary of the secretariat, in the two-para communiqué stated: “I am directed to inform you that 4th Session of l2th Manipur Legislative Assembly has been summoned by Hon’ble Governor of Manipur to meet on Tuesday, 29th August, 2023 at 11am.”

According to Article 174 of the Constitution, the gap between the two sessions cannot exceed six months.

Since the last session was held from February 21 to March 3, the next session had to be convened by September 2 or it would have led to a constitutional crisis, experts said.

The governor’s assent followed chief minister N. Biren Singh-led cabinet’s decision earlier on Monday to recommend the holding of the Assembly session on August 29.

Raj Bhavan had not approved the cabinet August 4 recommendation to convene the session on August 21. The Raj Bhavan had not cited any reason for not giving its nod for holding the session on August 21 but most feel it was due to security concerns.

Even after three months, the law and order situation remains tense and sporadic untoward incidents are taking place despite a heavy deployment of central forces.

There has been sustained demand from Valley-based organisations and political parties to hold a special session to discuss the situation prevailing in the state since violence erupted on May 3.

The unrest has left at least 168 people dead and 60,000 displaced from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities and led to a demand by the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs for a separate administration from Manipur.

The Manipur Assembly has 60 MLAs, with the BJP heading the government. However, the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, including seven from the ruling BJP, have decided to stay away from the session over concerns about their security in Meitei-majority Imphal city where the Assembly is located.

The 10 Naga MLAs were also told on August 2 by the United Naga Council, the apex body of the Nagas in the state, to stay away from the Assembly session because it was being convened under pressure from various civil society organisations for the protection of Manipur’s territorial integrity during a volatile situation.