Manipur CM Biren Singh Resigns Almost Two Years After Ethnic Violence Gripped State - News18

Manipur CM Biren Singh Resigns Almost Two Years After Ethnic Violence Gripped State - News18

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Manipur CM N Biren Singh handed over his resignation to Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla. (IMAGE: SOURCED)

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on Sunday after meeting with the state’s Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in Imphal. Sources told CNN-News18 that the possibility of a no-confidence motion by the Congress-led opposition played a key role in his resignation.

Sources said he has been asked to continue as a caretaker chief minister until a new appointment is made.

They also said that the Congress was confident of garnering support from BJP MLAs who were reportedly unhappy with Singh’s leadership. Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla apprised the Centre of the evolving situation.

In his resignation letter, Singh said, “It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur thus far. I am extremely grateful to the Central government for timely actions, interventions, developmental work and implementation of various projects for safeguarding the interest of every single Manipuri."

BJP’s North East Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra, State BJP president A Sharda and at least 19 MLAs had accompanied Singh.

In the run-up to Singh’s resignation, key administrative changes were made in the hill districts without the Chief Minister’s explicit approval.

In the morning, Singh met Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister J P Nadda in New Delhi. As per the sources, Singh was facing pressure from inside and outside the party.

Even after the withdrawal of support from Conrad Sangma’s NPP, the BJP had the majority needed in Manipur. But there were chances of some MLAs – who were seeking change in the leadership – leaving the party in case a situation of floor test arose.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, reacting to Singh’s resignation said that “the no-confidence motion by the Congress forced a reckoning".

“For nearly two years, BJP’s CM Biren Singh instigated division in Manipur. PM Modi allowed him to continue despite the violence, loss of life, and the destruction of the idea of India 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," he said in a social media post on X.

Speaking to CNN News-18, ITLF Kuki Zo spokesperson Ginza Vualzong said that they did not have numbers. “In the Assembly tomorrow, there would have been a no-confidence motion and they would have failed to prove majority," he said.

“It might be drama from Biren’s side. We have our reservation because he had done this earlier," he added.

Taking to X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh confirmed that their party was ready to move a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister in the Manipur Assembly tomorrow.

“The Congress was all set to move a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers in the Manipur Assembly tomorrow. 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. The CM’s resignation was belated," he said.

The Congress was all set to move a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers in the Manipur Assembly tomorrow.Sensing the climate, the Manipur CM has just resigned. This was a demand that the Congress has been making since early May 2023,…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 9, 2025

Singh submitted his resignation a day after he spoke about how his government made various efforts to restore peace in the violence-torn state.

“The state government has been making all possible efforts to restore peace and to ensure that people live together peacefully as before," Singh said, as reported by PTI.

Manipur Assembly will be under suspended animation under Article 356 (1). The state is likely to be under the governor’s rule.

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The next state assembly elections in Manipur are to take place in 2027 alongside Uttar Pradesh.

In May 2023, ethnic violence broke out in Manipur that has so far led to the death of 250 people and left thousands homeless.