Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on Sunday, stepping down from his post two years after ethnic violence erupted in the state. His resignation comes amid growing dissent within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the looming possibility of a no-confidence motion by the Congress.
Singh submitted his resignation to Governor Anusuiya Uikey after consulting with the party’s central leadership in Delhi. While the BJP still holds a majority in the assembly despite the withdrawal of support from Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP), several party MLAs had been pushing for a leadership change. Reports suggested that some legislators were prepared to defy the party whip in the event of a floor test, raising concerns about the stability of the government.
To avoid a political crisis, Singh conferred with senior BJP leaders, including party president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, before making his decision.
Dissent Within BJP and Congress’ No-Confidence Motion
The discontent within the state BJP had been escalating, with around 12 MLAs openly calling for a change in leadership. Sources indicate that at least six more legislators were undecided. Alleged differences between Singh and the Speaker of the Manipur Assembly further complicated the political scenario.
Some of the rebel MLAs had also approached Amit Shah with their grievances, further intensifying speculation about Singh’s exit. With the Congress prepared to move a no-confidence motion in the assembly session beginning on Monday, political observers suggested that some BJP legislators might have abstained from a floor test rather than backing the Chief Minister.
Leaked Audio Tapes Add to Political Pressure
The demand for Singh’s removal intensified after a member of the Kuki community filed a petition in the Supreme Court, alleging that the Chief Minister had instigated the ethnic violence that broke out in May 2023. The allegations were reportedly based on leaked audio tapes in which Singh’s voice was allegedly recorded making inflammatory remarks.
An independent forensic analysis by Truth Labs confirmed a 93% match between the voice in the tapes and that of Singh. Following this, the Supreme Court directed the Central Forensic Science Laboratory to conduct its own verification of the recordings.
BJP’s Political Calculations
Political analysts suggest that the BJP leadership sought to preempt a crisis in Manipur, particularly given the party’s recent successes in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Delhi. With its electoral momentum at stake, the party was keen to prevent internal discord from overshadowing its broader political strategy.
Singh’s resignation marks a significant shift in Manipur’s political landscape, and all eyes are now on the BJP’s next move as it navigates the leadership transition in the state.
Sources By Agencies
