Imphal (Manipur) [India]: Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhawan on Sunday, stepping down two years after violent ethnic clashes shook the state.
The conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur erupted on May 3, 2023, following a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM). The rally was held in response to a Manipur High Court directive urging the state to consider granting the Meitei community Scheduled Tribe status, a move that sparked widespread unrest.
Singh was accompanied by BJP state president A Sharda, BJP’s North East in-charge Sambit Patra, and at least 19 MLAs while submitting his resignation.
“It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur so far,” Singh stated in his resignation letter.
He expressed gratitude to the Central government for its interventions and developmental efforts, emphasizing the importance of continued support.
“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,” he wrote.
Key Concerns Highlighted in Resignation Letter
Singh urged the Central government to persist in its focus on critical issues affecting Manipur, outlining several priorities:
- Maintaining Manipur’s territorial integrity, given its rich and diverse civilizational history.
- Tackling border infiltration and formulating policies for the deportation of illegal immigrants.
- Continuing the fight against drugs and narco-terrorism.
- Enforcing a stricter border security mechanism, including biometric-based monitoring.
- Accelerating infrastructure development along the border.
Earlier in the day, Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss the situation.
Biren Singh’s Political Journey
Biren Singh had been serving as Manipur’s Chief Minister since 2017, after the BJP-led NDA alliance secured a comfortable majority in the 2022 Assembly elections, winning 32 out of 60 seats.
In the same elections:
- Congress won five seats.
- National People’s Party (NPP) secured seven seats.
- Naga People’s Front (NPF) won five seats.
- Kuki People’s Alliance secured two seats.
- Independents won three seats.
The JD(U), an NDA ally, had initially won six seats, but five of its MLAs later joined the BJP, further consolidating the party’s strength.
With Singh’s resignation, Manipur’s political landscape is set for a significant shift as the state navigates its ongoing challenges.