Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh tendered his resignation on Sunday (February 9), marking a significant political shift in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader submitted his resignation letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan, the governor’s official residence in Imphal.

The move comes just a day before the Congress party planned to introduce a no-confidence motion against Singh in the Manipur Assembly. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated that the resignation was a result of the mounting political pressure against Singh’s leadership. “Sensing the climate, the Manipur CM has just resigned. This was a demand that the Congress has been making since early May 2023, when Manipur erupted,” Ramesh said.

Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic violence since May 2023, with clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi-Hmar communities resulting in at least 258 deaths and the displacement of over 59,000 people. Critics have accused Singh’s administration of a partisan approach and majoritarian policies that exacerbated tensions.

Ramesh also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur amid the crisis. “The Prime Minister has found neither the time nor the inclination to go to Manipur since the ethnic conflict began. Will he make a visit now?” he questioned.

Singh’s resignation comes after continued demands from the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar groups, who have been calling for his removal since the start of the ethnic unrest. With his departure, political uncertainty looms over the northeastern state, and all eyes are now on the next steps for the BJP leadership in Manipur.
 

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