Governor Accepts Resignation, Opposition Calls It a ‘Compulsive Decision’
Imphal, February 9: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan, Imphal, on Saturday evening, amid escalating political tensions in the state. Singh was accompanied by state ministers, BJP MLAs, and BJP Manipur President during his visit to Raj Bhavan.
In an official statement, Raj Bhavan, Manipur, confirmed that the Governor accepted Singh’s resignation along with his Council of Ministers, instructing him to continue in office until alternative arrangements are made.
BJP Leaders React to Resignation
BJP MP Dilip Saikia, representing Darrang-Udalguri, Assam, stated that Singh’s resignation was his personal decision.
“I have just received information about his resignation. It is his decision. I will discuss this with my cabinet, and our party will decide the next course of action in Manipur. We want the state to progress and have peace,” Saikia told reporters.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal assured that the central government is closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to ensure stability.
“The central government is continuously monitoring developments and taking all the necessary steps,” Khandelwal said.
Opposition Alleges ‘Political Conspiracy’
The Congress party, however, claimed Singh’s resignation was not voluntary but a “forced political move” ahead of a no-confidence motion against him.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate alleged that Singh stepped down to avoid an imminent defeat in the assembly session.
“His resignation is a well-thought-out and compulsive decision. The Manipur assembly session was scheduled to begin tomorrow, where a no-confidence motion was set to be moved against him. He had no option but to step down because even his own party members were against him. Now the real question is—will he be made a caretaker CM and quietly reinstated later? Is this a pre-planned strategy?” Shrinate questioned.
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh stated that Singh had lost the majority and had no choice but to resign.
“You need to understand the chronology—tomorrow, the Congress party was going to move a no-confidence motion in the Manipur assembly. Biren Singh realized he did not have the majority and was compelled to resign. There is an atmosphere of fear in Manipur. His resignation was delayed, and he is merely a puppet. The real responsibility lies with the Union Home Minister, who should also resign. Why has Prime Minister Narendra Modi not visited Manipur yet? Appointing a new Chief Minister will not change the situation. The PM must visit the state immediately,” Ramesh demanded.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi also criticized Singh for not stepping down earlier despite ongoing law and order issues.
“I welcome his resignation, but he should have resigned long ago. More than 20 BJP MLAs were against him. The law and order situation in Manipur has been deteriorating daily. Why was the BJP leadership reluctant to remove him earlier? The BJP must now ensure that a competent person replaces him to restore peace and stability,” Alvi asserted.
What’s Next for Manipur?
Singh’s resignation marks a crucial shift in Manipur’s political landscape, but uncertainty looms over the state’s leadership. The BJP is expected to deliberate on its next Chief Ministerial candidate, while opposition parties continue to pressure the Centre over the ongoing crisis.
With the state grappling with ethnic violence and governance challenges, all eyes are now on the BJP leadership’s next move to restore normalcy in Manipur.