President's rule enforced in Manipur after CM Biren Singh steps down

With no consensus on a successor for N Biren Singh even three days after his resignation as Manipur’s Chief Minister, the state has officially been placed under President’s Rule. This development marks a crucial turn in Manipur’s ongoing political and social crisis.

According to Article 174(1) of the Indian Constitution, state Assemblies must convene within six months of their last sitting. In Manipur, the last Assembly session took place on August 12, 2024, making Wednesday the constitutional deadline for the next session. However, Governor Ajay Bhalla canceled the upcoming Budget session, initially scheduled for Monday, following Singh’s resignation on Sunday.

Singh’s decision to step down came just a day before his government was to face a no-confidence motion and a crucial floor test, effectively avoiding a political battle. His resignation also follows nearly two years of ethnic violence in the state, which erupted in May 2023, intensifying pressure from opposition parties demanding his removal.

Congress accuses BJP of political maneuvering

The Congress party has accused the BJP of orchestrating Singh’s resignation to protect itself rather than addressing the concerns of Manipur’s people. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi termed the move as "long overdue," while Gaurav Gogoi, the party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, alleged that the BJP lacks a clear roadmap for restoring peace in the violence-hit northeastern state.

Supreme Court investigation and leaked audio clips

Singh’s resignation also coincides with a Supreme Court inquiry into leaked audio tapes allegedly linking him to the ethnic violence. The recordings reportedly include discussions where Singh suggested that Meitei groups were allowed to seize arms and ammunition from the state government during clashes with the Kuki community.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pointed to the Supreme Court investigation as a driving factor behind Singh’s resignation, stating, “The resignation of CM Biren Singh shows that mounting public pressure, the SC investigation, and the no-confidence motion by Congress have forced a reckoning.”

With Manipur now under President’s Rule, the focus shifts to how the central government will handle the state’s deepening political and ethnic crisis.