Waning popularity to internal bickering: What forced Biren Singh to quit as Manipur CM

Biren Singh

Succumbing to months of prolonged pressure and growing dissent, N Biren Singh on Sunday resigned as the chief minister of Manipur. Political analysts attribute months of infighting within the BJP as the prime reason behind Singh's Sunday decision.

Singh's resignation came amid growing dissent within the state BJP over his handling of ethnic violence, an impending no-confidence motion, forensic examination of an inflammatory voice clip, and many others.

Was Biren Singh losing support among MLAs?

News agency PTI reported that Biren Singh had been losing support among BJP MLAs, with several of them meeting party leaders in Delhi to voice their concerns. Despite this, BJP Manipur President A Sharda Devi denied any discord, stating that Biren's resignation was for the state's future. She said that his resignation was motivated by a desire for peace and that he had called for the Centre’s continued support to ensure the safety of the people.

Opposition calls for no-confidence motion

Opposition parties had been demanding Singh’s resignation for his failure to address the ongoing violence. Following Singh’s resignation, Congress’s Manipur President Keisham Meghachandra announced plans to move a no-confidence motion in the state Assembly.

A controversy that marked his tenure

One of the most significant controversies of Singh's tenure was the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023. The ethnic strife, which saw brutal clashes between the majority Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo tribal groups in the surrounding hills, resulted in over 250 deaths and displaced thousands of people. The state's inability to contain it raised serious concerns about Singh’s leadership. Singh’s response to the violence, however, included a public apology in December 2023, where he expressed regret for the deaths and displacement caused by the unrest. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), a vocal critic of Singh’s handling of the ethnic conflict, sought a court-monitored investigation into the authenticity of the tapes.

The magnitude of crisis

Over 250 people including women and children were killed, over 1,500 injured and over 70,000 people displaced after the ethnic violence broke out on May 3 last year after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’, organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The rioting also left thousands of houses, government and non-government properties, and religious installations destroyed or damaged.

What’s Next for Manipur?

Following Singh's resignation, the Manipur Assembly Budget session has been suspended. Officials have confirmed that the session will resume once a new Chief Minister is appointed, with sources indicating that an announcement could come as early as Monday. The party is expected to convene meetings with top leaders to finalize the name of the next Chief Minister.