Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has resigned after two years of ethnic violence

In a recent major political event, Chief Minister N Biren Singh tendered his resignation from his post and sent it to the newly appointed Governor of Raj Bhavan, Imphal, Ajay Kumar Bhalla. N Biren resigned nearly two years ago after the state witnessed extremist ethnic clashes, mainly involving the Kukis and Meiteis, which has resulted in the death of over 250 people so far.

The resignation was submitted just hours after he returned from New Delhi. Following a meeting between N Biren Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, details of what transpired during the conversation have not been revealed but reports believe that that discussion may have played a key role in Singh stepping down as Kerala Chief Minister. The Biren Singh regime has faced serious challenges, including the recent violent ethnic clashes that erupted in May 2023.

Since then, the state has experienced a humanitarian crisis, with over 59,000 people displaced and 11,133 houses destroyed in the violence. Two other issues that Singh claimed to fight for in his resignation letter are border infiltration and drug trafficking.

#WATCH | Manipur CM N Biren Singh hands over the letter of resignation from the post of Chief Minister to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. pic.twitter.com/xCoiQUsmgQ

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2025

In his letter, Singh highlighted the following five priorities:

1. Maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur.

2. Cracking down on border infiltration.

3. Dealing with drug trafficking.

4. Revising the Foreigners (Tribunal) Mechanism (FMR).

5. Ensuring the continued development of the state, especially for the displaced population.

Reflecting on his tenure, Singh said: “It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur.” Acknowledging that “the violence leaves scars of pain and suffering on the victims”, he assured that “our government has done and will continue to do its best to console the state in the aftermath of the tragic events.”

Earlier this year, Singh and his colleagues had publicly apologised for the violence that led to the displacement of thousands of people and destruction of properties across the state. According to the state government, the devastating impact forced it to come up with the “Ek Parivar Ek Lakh” scheme, under which financial assistance of Rs 25,000 was provided to 2,792 affected families as the first instalment. Also, Singh claimed that the first instalment of the remaining amount will be transferred soon.

Biren Singh’s resignation has left many wondering what the next phase of the state’s leadership will be. The state is now gearing up for its assembly session starting on February 10, and political observers are eager to see how this change in leadership will play out against the backdrop of restoring peace and stability in Manipur.

The BJP-led Manipur government may soon go through a transition phase after the chief minister’s resignation, as the party is yet to decide on its next step after one of the most turbulent chapters in its history.