 "Why Biren Singh quit as Manipur chief minister 21 months after violence began")
On May 3, 2023, ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state of Manipur. Since then, the state has been in the midst of tensions and violence. However, its Chief Minister Biren Singh continued to stay in power, until Sunday (February 9).
On Sunday, Chief Minister Biren Singh flew to Delhi and met with Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah. Reports quoting sources say that Singh was asked to resign following a two-hour meeting. Following his meeting, Singh flew back to Imphal on Sunday, around 2 pm, and then tendered his resignation to the newly appointed Governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla around 5.30 pm.
But what prompted Manipur’s Biren Singh to tender his resignation now — 21 months after facing criticism and opposition for the ethnic violence that has broken out in the northeastern state?
Biren Singh tenders resignation
On Sunday, Biren Singh tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. The governor accepted Singh’s resignation, along with that of his council of ministers.
In his resignation letter, Singh wrote, “It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur thus far. I am extremely grateful to the central government for time actions, interventions, developmental work and implementation of various projects for safeguarding the interests of every single Manipuri.”
He added, “My sincere request to the central government through your good office is to continue with the same. I take the opportunity to enumerate the most important ones of them… To maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur which has a rich and diverse civilisational history over thousands of years.”
Singh in his resignation letter also requested the Centre to continue the “crackdown on border infiltration and to formulate policy for the deportation of the illegal immigrants and the fight against drugs and narco terrorism.”
Reasons why Biren Singh quit, now
There are several factors that prompted Biren Singh to put in his papers. First and foremost, Singh was losing support among BJP MLAs owing to the manner in which he handled the violence in the state.
Singh has been facing rumblings from within his party, leading some of the dissident MLAs to even reach the Capital to voice their dissent. For instance, Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, who has been a vocal critic of Biren Singh, visited Delhi last week and met with BJP president JP Nadda. At the meet, the Speaker told Singh about the no-confidence motion, which was set to be moved against the CM by the Congress. The Indian Express quoting a source said that when asked if Satyabrata Singh could avert the motion, he said he wouldn’t be able to stop it.
But the Speaker wasn’t alone in voicing his dissent against Biren Singh. Earlier on February 3, Manipur Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh also reached the Capital. At a meeting with the BJP’s top leadership, he warned that the government would collapse if Biren Singh wasn’t replaced.
Sensing that the BJP MLAs wouldn’t support Biren Singh when the Congress moved a no-confidence motion as the Budget session began on Monday (this has now been declared ‘null and void’), the BJP asked Singh to step down.
In the Manipur Assembly, the BJP has 37 MLAs supported by its allies Naga People’s Front (5) and JDU with one MLA. Meanwhile, the opposition holds 16 seats — the National People’s Party with six, the Congress with five, three independents, and two from KPA.
Party insiders believed that of the 37 MLAs, around 12 were pushing for Singh’s ouster and another six were on the fence. Given that this would put the BJP in a vulnerable position, the party asked him to step down.
However, Manipur BJP chief A Sharda Devi told reporters that the chief minister’s decision was made to protect the integrity of the state and keeping in mind public welfare. “Since 2017, Biren Singh has been working tirelessly for the development of Manipur. His resignation reflects his deep commitment to safeguarding the state’s integrity,” she said.
But waning support from his party isn’t the only reason that pushed Biren Singh to resign. The Supreme Court has also sought a report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) on leaked audio tapes that indicate the alleged involvement of Biren Singh in the state’s ongoing ethnic violence.
The action came based on a writ petition filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, asking for an independent investigation into Singh’s alleged role in the violence that has left more than 200 people dead.
It is said that this also raised questions about Singh’s future as the chief minister of Manipur.
Congress Speaks
Shortly after Biren Singh tendered his resignation, the Congress’ Jairam Ramesh said that Congress was set to move the no-confidence motion and “sensing the climate” Biren Singh resigned.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also speaking on the same said that Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh resigned amid mounting pressure from the public, Supreme Court and Congress.
He further accused Biren Singh of “instigating” division in Manipur. “The resignation of CM Biren Singh shows that mounting public pressure, the SC investigation and the no-confidence motion by the Congress have forced a reckoning,” Gandhi added.
Future of Manipur
Soon after Singh quit as chief minister, speculation was rife that President’s Rule would be imposed in the northeastern state. However, the governor’s Secretariat stated that Biren Singh has been asked to continue in office “till alternative arrangements are made”.
Moreover, the Manipur Legislative Assembly session, which was set to begin on Monday (February 10), had been declared “null and void” with immediate effect. “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, I, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Governor of Manipur, hereby order that the previous directive to summon the 7th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, which has yet to commence, is hereby declared null and void with immediate effect,” the notice read.
Manipur has been in the grips of violence since 2023. Government data shows that as of May 3, 2024, 221 people have been killed in the violence and 60,000 people have been displaced. At the heights of the violence, which has broken out between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki groups, a video had surfaced showing two women being paraded naked following a gang rape.
It is left to be seen if Singh’s resignation will pave the way for peace to be restored in the state.
With inputs from agencies
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