Political Turmoil in Manipur as CM N. Biren Singh Resigns Amid Crisis
Imphal, February 9: Manipur is witnessing a significant political shift as Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh resigned on Sunday amid the ongoing violence in the state. His resignation marks a turning point in Manipur’s governance, adding further uncertainty to an already volatile political landscape.
Singh personally handed over his resignation letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan, stating, “It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur so far.” He was accompanied by state BJP president A. Sharda, BJP’s North East in-charge Sambit Patra, and at least 19 MLAs while submitting his resignation.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Hon’ble Governor of Manipur, Nongthombam Biren Singh wrote, “I, Nongthombam Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, am submitting my resignation herewith. It has been an honor to serve the people of Manipur thus far.” Expressing gratitude to the Central government, he stated, “I am extremely grateful to the Central government for timely actions, interventions, developmental work, and implementation of various projects for safeguarding the interest of every single Manipuri. My sincere request to the Central government through your good office is to continue with the same.”
Singh also highlighted key priorities for the state, emphasizing the need “to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur, which has a rich and diverse civilizational history over thousands of years,” along with efforts “to crack down on border infiltration and formulate a policy for the deportation of illegal immigrants.” Additionally, he stressed the importance of continuing “the fight against drugs and narco-terrorism,” implementing “a stringent and fool-proof revised mechanism of Free Movement Regime (FMR) with biometric verification being strictly applied,” and ensuring “time-bound and faster border fencing, which is already underway.”
Concluding his letter, Singh formally requested the Governor to accept his resignation, signing off with “Kindly accept my resignation and oblige.” The letter was dated February 9, 2025, and submitted at Raj Bhavan in Imphal.
Manipur’s Political Landscape in Flux
Singh’s resignation comes at a time when the state is already grappling with political instability. The fate of the nine disqualification petitions against defectors from the Congress party is still uncertain. Yesterday, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Vice President Hareshwar Goswami urged Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh to pronounce the order on these petitions.
The Anti-Defection Law, enshrined in the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, is crucial in maintaining political stability and preventing party switching. The Congress has been pressing for a swift decision, arguing that delays weaken democratic governance.
With Manipur now at a political crossroads, all attention is on Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh, whose decision on the defectors could significantly impact the state’s political future. Meanwhile, speculation is rife about who will take over as the next Chief Minister and how the government will handle the ongoing crisis.
