Imphal, February 13, 2025 — In a significant political development, Manipur has been placed under President’s Rule following the resignation of chief minister N. Biren Singh. It was a fateful decision after the Bharatiya Janata Party could not appoint a successor, which created a leadership vacuum against the background of already boiling ethnic tensions.
N. Biren Singh submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on February 9, 2025, against the backdrop of widening ethnic violence that has beseeched the state since May 2023. In his resignation letter, Singh thanked Governor Bhalla for the opportunity to serve and stated that the central government was primarily responsible for encouraging the resolution of the problems facing the state. He stressed that maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur, combating border infiltration and conserving drugs and narco-terrorism must remain on the priority list.
Political Turmoil and Leadership Vacuum
After Singh’s resignation, the BJP faced internal challenges in appointing a new leader. Despite many meetings and internal discussions, no consensus was reached. The party’s Northeast in-charge, Sambit Patra, held discussions with state legislators, but even he was unable to produce a concrete result. The President’s Rule was imposed due to the inability to appoint a new chief minister within the constitutional deadline.
Imposition of President’s Rule
President’s Rule, under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution, can be imposed whenever a state government is unable to function according to the provisions of the Constitution. In this case, the administration of the state is taken care of by the central government, with the governor acting in consensus with it and serving as its primarily appointed constitutional head. The state legislative assembly may be either suspended or dissolved, and the Parliament takes over the right of the state to legislate.
Reactions from Political Parties
Congress reiterated its rejection of the imposition of President’s Rule. In a statement, Congress leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh said that the party is against imposing President’s Rule and in favor of a democratically elected government to uphold democratic ideals in the state. The Congress party had earlier announced plans to move a no-deal motion against the BJP government for being helpless to stop the violence.
Ethnic Violence and Its Impacts
Manipur has been gripped by tribal violence between the Meitei community, primarily settled in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo groups in the hill districts. This violence started in May 2023 and has witnessed atrocities resulting in the death of more than 250 people and leaving thousands displaced. The unrest was initially sparked by the demand of the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe status, which led to widespread protests and subsequent clashes.
Future Prospects and Opportunities
The imposition of President’s Rule requires the central government to win the peace back into Manipur as Actol administration begins to address the root causes of ethnic tensions and push for the reconciliation of hostile communities. With deep-seated issues causing unrest, it remains to be seen if central rule will achieve these goals.
The President’s Rule in Manipur marks a watershed moment in the state’s politics. As the central government steps in to handle day-to-day administration of the state, the question will be how to restore law and order and to address the grievances of the different communities, thus paving way for an eventual reestablishment of democratic processes. The next few months will determine, to some extent, how the state will move toward peace and stability.
