Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Manipur on November 26 to meet families affected by ethnic violence and people displaced by the prolonged conflict, Congress leaders and party sources said on Monday.
The proposed one-day visit is expected to include engagements in Imphal and Churachandpur, where Gandhi is likely to interact with internally displaced persons (IDPs), families who lost relatives in the violence and representatives of different communities.
Congress Legislature Party leader K Meghachandra Singh confirmed that the state unit had received communication regarding Gandhi's proposed visit towards the end of November. However, the detailed itinerary and programmes have not yet been finalised.
The visit would be Gandhi's third to Manipur since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023, displacing tens of thousands of people and causing widespread destruction.
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According to party sources, Gandhi is expected to begin his visit in Imphal before travelling to Churachandpur, one of the districts severely affected by the conflict.
He is likely to meet displaced families living in relief camps and interact with people who have been unable to return to their homes despite more than three years having passed since the violence began.
The Congress is also planning interactions with young people and healthcare workers to understand the continuing challenges faced by communities affected by the unrest.
Meghachandra said Churachandpur was likely to feature in the itinerary, although it remained unclear whether Kangpokpi would also be included.
He maintained that the proposed visit was not intended solely as a political exercise but would provide Gandhi an opportunity to assess conditions on the ground and explore ways to address the continuing tensions.
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Manipur has witnessed prolonged ethnic tensions since May 3, 2023, when clashes erupted between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities following a Tribal Solidarity March organised in opposition to the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
According to figures presented in the state Assembly in September, at least 306 people had been killed and 49 remained missing as of August 31, 2026.
Government data released earlier this year showed that more than 58,000 people had been displaced by the violence. Nearly 7,900 houses were destroyed, while more than 2,600 suffered partial damage.
Thousands of displaced residents continue to face uncertainty over rehabilitation, security and their eventual return home.
The prolonged displacement and challenges surrounding reconciliation remain central issues in the state's political and administrative landscape.
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Gandhi first visited Manipur in June 2023, shortly after the outbreak of violence, when he met displaced families and civil society representatives.
During that visit, police briefly stopped his road convoy, citing security concerns.
He returned in July 2024, after becoming Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and visited relief camps in Jiribam, Churachandpur and Moirang.
During his earlier visits, Gandhi had called for efforts to restore peace and address the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
The proposed November visit is expected to renew attention on rehabilitation, reconciliation and the difficulties faced by families who remain displaced.
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Apart from meeting violence-affected families, Gandhi is expected to hold discussions with local Congress leaders to review the political situation and the party's preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections.
The proposed visit follows a meeting in New Delhi on November 2 between senior Manipur Congress leaders, Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
The meeting discussed the prevailing situation in Manipur, organisational matters and preparations for the next Assembly elections.
The state Congress leadership has indicated that Gandhi's visit would combine interactions with affected communities and discussions on the party's political strategy.
The visit also comes amid a controversy involving Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who has faced sexual harassment allegations.
BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, have demanded his resignation. The Delhi High Court, however, granted an interim stay on Jawaharlal Nehru University's decision to terminate his services on November 2.
With November 26 emerging as the likely date, Congress leaders are expected to finalise the programme in the coming days. An official announcement of the complete itinerary is still awaited.