President’s Rule Imposed in Manipur After Biren Singh’s Resignation
Imphal/New Delhi, February 14, 2025: President’s Rule has been imposed in violence-hit Manipur, just days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh stepped down amid political turmoil and an impending no-confidence motion from the opposition Congress. This marks the 11th time since 1951 that President’s Rule has been declared in the state.
Constitutional Crisis Leads to President’s Rule
A statement from President Droupadi Murmu’s office confirmed the decision, citing a report from Governor Ajay Bhalla. “After considering the report and other information received by me, I am satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of that state cannot be carried on under the provisions of the Constitution of India,” the communiqué stated.
The decision was prompted by the BJP’s failure to reach a consensus on a new Chief Minister, leading to an indefinite postponement of the assembly session. With the constitutional deadline for convening the state assembly expiring, the imposition of the President’s Rule became unavoidable.
Political Unrest and Leadership Crisis
Biren Singh tendered his resignation on Sunday after consulting with the central leadership in Delhi. BJP’s northeast in-charge, Sambit Patra, engaged in discussions with party MLAs in Imphal but failed to resolve the leadership crisis. Despite the BJP’s expectation of finalizing a Chief Ministerial candidate after PM Modi’s return from the US, the situation remained unresolved, resulting in a governance vacuum. The state assembly, which last convened on August 12, 2024, could not meet before the constitutionally mandated six-month deadline, leading to the imposition of Article 356.
11th Imposition of Article 356 in Manipur
Sambit Patra clarified that the state assembly has been placed under suspended animation rather than being dissolved. This is the 11th instance of President’s Rule in Manipur, with the previous instance lasting from June 2, 2001, to March 6, 2002. The state is now under direct rule from the Centre, leaving Manipur without an elected government for the first time in 23 years.
Ethnic Violence and Political Fallout
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, resulting in over 200 casualties. The prolonged unrest has fueled political instability, with opposition parties accusing both the state and central governments of failing to restore normalcy. In November 2024, Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) withdrew its support from the government, intensifying the crisis. Despite having a majority in the 60-member assembly, internal dissent within the BJP saw 12 MLAs pushing for a change in leadership.
The situation worsened when leaked audio tapes allegedly implicated Biren Singh in inciting violence. A non-profit forensic lab, Truth Labs, confirmed a 93% match to his voice, leading to legal scrutiny by the Supreme Court.
As Manipur enters a new phase under central rule, the political landscape remains uncertain, with lingering questions over when normalcy and effective governance will be restored.
