Vunzjagin Valte

Vungzagin Valte is an Indian politician from Manipur. He is a former Tribal minister. He now represents the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is a three-time member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from the Thanlon constituency in Pherzawl district as a member of the Indian National Congress. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life and education

Valte is from Kuki Zomi tribal community. ^[3]

Career

Valte won from Thanlon Assembly constituency representing the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly election. He polled 4,863 votes and defeated his nearest rival, Khantang Taosing of the National People's Party, by 751 votes.

Attack

Valte was placed in critical condition after an attack during the July 2023 Manipur Violence. ^{[4] [3]} After attending a meeting called by chief minister N. Biren Singh, he was on his way home when he was brutally attacked on 4 May 2024 in Imphal. Rubbishing media reports that the government forgot Valte, the Information and Public Relations minister said: "We have not forgotten him. We care for him." ^[5]

On April 18, 2025, after nearly two years of treatment in Delhi, Valte returned home to Churachandpur, accompanied by his wife. Both were in wheelchairs and received a warm welcome from constituents and locals. ^[6] That same day, in an interview with Ratnadip Choudhury of NDTV, Valte emphasized that the path to peace in Manipur lies in granting autonomy to the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar people through Union Territory status. He expressed his stance on negotiations, stating, 'I will not sit with Meiteis at the negotiation table.' Valte also thanked the Ministry of Home Affairs for establishing buffer zones between Kuki-Zo and Meitei-dominated areas. ^[7]

References

1. "2 former Manipur Congress MLAs switch to BJP". The Times of India. 26 January 2017. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 3 November 2024.
2. "Thanlon (Manipur) Elections and Results 2017, Candidate list, Winner and Runner-up". Elections in India. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
3. Gupta, Moushumi Das (26 July 2023). "Manipur BJP MLA attacked by mob lies paralysed, family grapples with bills. 'No help from anyone'". ThePrint. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
4. "Uneasy calm in violence-hit Manipur amid heavy presence of security forces". the pioneer. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
5. "Assaulted MLA Valte 'not forgotten', Manipur govt monitoring his condition: Minister Sapam Ranjan". The Indian Express. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2024.