The hill regions, populated by Naga and Kuki tribes, were administered by the British official without the involvement of the Durbar.
[7][8][9] In 1934, Nikhil Manipuri Mahsabha (NMM) was established by Hijam Irabot with the-then Maharajah Churachand Singh as President.
[10] By 1938 it had become a prominent political front advocating the democratization of the powers held by the Durbar and an overhaul of the corrupt colonial administration.
[10] In the ensuing deliberations, Churachand and the President of the Durbar F. F. Pearson declined the demands of NMM, claiming that Manipur was not "ripe for democracy".
[11][12] Popular resistance continued — the Second Nupi Lan would play a significant role in mobilizing anti-feudal sentiments in the masses.
[12] By 21 September, Bodhchandra Singh seems to have conceded the demand for a (legislative) assembly and asked the British government for permission.
[12][18] The draft was soon vetted by the Durbar and on receiving Maharaja's consent, was enacted as the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947 on 27 July 1947.
"[34] With an elected assembly and appointment of ministers, Manipur was claimed to have become a "constitutional monarchy",[35] sometimes prefixed with the label "independent".
[36] However, scholar Sudhirkumar Singh notes that the chief minister was appointed by the Maharaja, without any requirement of being an elected member of the assembly.
[39] Hijam Irabot, the seniormost democratic leader in the state, opposed the constitution saying there was no article guaranteeing "independence of Manipur and democracy".
In October 1949, the Maharaja was invited to a meeting in Shillong, and asked to sign a merger agreement with the Indian Union.
Sudhirkumar Singh remarks that no serious response could have been expected because the state was "characterised by low literacy and shallow political culture".