Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on Sunday, February 9, following mounting political pressure and an impending no-confidence motion against his government. The resignation came after Singh met with Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. Accompanied by 14 BJP and NPF MLAs, Singh submitted his resignation letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. The state BJP leadership, including president A Sharda and national spokesperson Sambit Patra, was also present during the meeting. Soon after, Singh proceeded to the CM Secretariat, marking the end of his tenure, which had been overshadowed by prolonged ethnic violence and governance challenges in the state.
In his resignation letter, Singh expressed gratitude to the central government for its interventions and development initiatives in Manipur. He highlighted key issues, including the need to safeguard the state’s territorial integrity, combat border infiltration, deport illegal immigrants, and strengthen anti-drug and anti-narcotics measures. He also stressed the importance of revising the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border with stricter biometric enforcement and faster border infrastructure development. Singh urged the central government to continue its efforts in restoring peace and stability in the state, which has witnessed severe ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023.
The resignation follows a crucial meeting of the BJP-led ruling alliance in Imphal, attended by at least 20 MLAs. The political turmoil intensified after the opposition Congress pushed for a no-confidence motion against Singh’s government. A day before stepping down, Singh made an unannounced visit to New Delhi on a chartered flight, sparking speculation about discussions with BJP’s central leadership. Having served as Manipur’s chief minister since 2017, Singh was the first BJP leader to form a government in the state, securing re-election in 2022. However, his leadership faced increasing scrutiny amid the ongoing ethnic violence and administrative challenges, leading to his eventual resignation.
