President's Rule imposed in Manipur four days after CM Biren Singh's resignation



Manipur Chief Minister, Biren Singh, stepped down after reports indicated that some BJP MLAs could support a no-confidence motion expected to be moved by the Congress in the state assembly. The Congress had planned to bring in a no-confidence motion against Singh on Monday, Feb 10. Intelligence inputs suggested that around 20 BJP MLAs would support the motion to end Singh’s reign.

Singh had been defying the opposition's demand to step down as CM of the ethnic violence-hit state where trouble broke out 21 months ago in May 2023.

In Jun 2023, Singh had left his residence for Raj Bhawan to tender his resignation. As per his aides, he had “lost the confidence of his people", since hundreds of people had gathered to protest the death of two Meitei men.

As the news about the planned resignation spread, crowd gathered around his convoy. Singh was forced to turn around. Outside his residence, a group of women tore his draft resignation to pieces, and Singh lived to tell the tale. The incident cemented his position among the majority Meitei community and backfooted critics within his own party.

But that long rope ran out on Sunday. Biren Singh, BJP North East Coordinator Sambit Patra and a group of MLAs, met Governor Ajay Bhalla at around 5:30 pm on February 9 and Singh resigned. He has been asked to continue as a caretaker Chief Minister for now, but by all accounts, it is the end of the road for the journalist-turned-politician at the helm of affairs in Manipur for now.

What perhaps queered the pitch for Singh in 2025, is the presence of a seasoned administrator in Imphal Raj Bhawan. Ajay Bhalla, the former Union Home Secretary was appointed as Governor on December 24, 2024. Governor Bhalla as Home Secretary had seen the Manipur crisis unfold. He had first-hand knowledge of the ground situation. Less than a month after his appointment as Governor, Bhalla initiated administrative changes in the Hill districts, shuffling police and administrative officials. The move was seen as Raj Bhawan seizing the initiative.

While the Centre had so far resisted any move to remove Biren Singh because of his support base amongst the majority Meitei community and administrative acumen, it was increasingly clear to New Delhi that in the Hills – the Kuki-Zo-Hmars would find a ‘neutral ‘ administrator with backing from New Delhi more unbiased and invested in peace.

Under Article 356 of the Constitution, the President’s Rule is enforced when the President, based on a report from the Governor, is convinced that the state government can no longer function as per constitutional provisions.

Once imposed, all state government functions are transferred to the Centre, and legislative powers shift to Parliament, while the functioning of High Courts remains unaffected.

+ +