Manipur CM Biren Singh Resigns Amid Lingering Ethnic Unrest

BJP leader steps down nearly two years after ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis

Imphal (Manipur), February 9: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan on Sunday, stepping down nearly two years after ethnic violence rocked the northeastern state.

The unrest between the Meitei and Kuki communities erupted on May 3, 2023, following a Manipur High Court directive that urged the state to consider the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. The order led to protests by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM), culminating in widespread violence.

Singh was accompanied by BJP state president A Sharda Devi, BJP’s Northeast Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra, and at least 19 MLAs while submitting his resignation.

Singh’s Resignation Statement

In his resignation letter, Singh expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve Manipur and thanked the Central government for its support in tackling the state’s challenges.

“It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur so far,” Singh wrote in his letter.

“I am extremely grateful to the Central government for its timely interventions, developmental work, and policies aimed at safeguarding every single Manipuri.”

Singh urged the Union government to continue efforts to address key issues facing the state, listing priorities such as:

• Territorial integrity of Manipur
• Crackdown on border infiltration and deportation of illegal immigrants
• Combating drug and narco-terrorism
• Strengthening border security mechanisms, including biometric surveillance
• Accelerating border infrastructure development

Meeting With Amit Shah Before Resignation

Earlier in the day, Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, where discussions reportedly focused on the ongoing security situation and governance in Manipur.

Biren Singh’s Political Journey

Biren Singh, a former footballer-turned-politician, took oath as Manipur CM in 2022 after leading the BJP-NDA alliance to a comfortable victory, securing 32 seats in the 60-member assembly.

The election results were as follows:

• BJP: 32 seats
• Congress: 5 seats
• National People’s Party (NPP): 7 seats
• Naga People’s Front (NPF): 5 seats
• Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA): 2 seats
• Independents: 3 seats

The JD(U), an NDA ally, initially won six seats, but five MLAs later defected to the BJP.

Singh’s resignation marks a significant political shift for Manipur, as the state continues to grapple with ethnic tensions, security concerns, and governance challenges.