Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba, Manipur’s titular monarch and a Rajya Sabha MP since 2020, is being urged by supporters to be renominated as his six-year term nears its June 18, 2026 end. The article argues that his parliamentary record, humanitarian interventions and cultural stewardship make him indispensable for Manipur’s stability, identity and recovery from recent communal unrest.
The piece highlights Sanajaoba’s parliamentary activism, noting his participation in 317 debates-well above a cited national average of 172.2 interventions-portraying him as a consistent voice for Manipur in Delhi. It credits the BJP’s 2020 nomination, backed in the article by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, as a strategic move to bind Manipur’s historical narrative to the national mainstream and to foster ethnic reconciliation.
According to the article, Sanajaoba’s style differs from conventional politicians. It recalls a 2009 meeting at Sana Konung where he spoke modestly with ordinary visitors and had no apparent political ambition until the BJP approached him. Supporters describe his decision to accept the party’s invitation as rooted in a larger national vision rather than personal gain.
The write-up details his parliamentary priorities. It says he repeatedly demanded comprehensive rehabilitation for families displaced by violence since 2023, urged urgent central support for peace-building, and pressed for normalcy while thanking central leaders for their efforts. It records his repeated calls for detection, identification and deportation of alleged illegal migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, and his warning that carrying out a census or constituency delimitation without first addressing illegal immigration could spark unrest and alter indigenous demographics. The article also notes his push for implementation of the NRC.
Border security featured in his March 2026 Special Mention, the piece states, where he drew attention to obstructions to Indo‑Myanmar border fencing in Manipur. He is also credited with cultural and development demands: formal recognition of Sanamahi as a separate religion in the census; an AIIMS in rural Manipur; advancement of the Jiribam‑Imphal rail link; better safety on national highways; promotion of the Manipuri pony; and improved weather monitoring including more Doppler radars for the Northeast. It says he moved a Statutory Resolution on the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act for Manipur and delivered an emotionally charged farewell speech in March 2026.
Beyond Parliament, the article documents his humanitarian interventions through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, citing cases and amounts: support for Melody Thangjam (₹92,500 at Tata Memorial) and Maibam Bijoy Singh (₹1,50,000 at RIMS) in March 2025, and earlier assistance of ₹3 lakh for two‑year‑old Albert Maimom’s bone marrow transplant. It also references an official letter dated 21 May 2026 from Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat approving Rs. 20 lakh for Kanglei Mime Theatre Repertory and praising Sanajaoba’s “keen interest in promoting traditional performing arts, particularly the rich legacy of Mime theatre in Manipur.”
The article stresses his role in communal outreach through the annual Mera Hou Chongba at Sana Konung, which it says brings together more than 100 tribal village chiefs and valley representatives for a procession to Kangla Fort and public appeals for unity and Meitei‑Meitei Pangal peace. Framing these achievements as service before self, the piece concludes by urging BJP leaders at the Centre and in Manipur to reappoint Maharaja Sanajaoba to the Rajya Sabha, arguing that his record of delivery, cultural stewardship and quiet humility warrants renomination.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/opinion/story/why-maharaja-leishemba-sanajaoba-must-return-to-rajya-sabha-in-2026-1400898-2026-06-01?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-06-01 15:00:00
