On February 9, 2025, Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh resigned from his post, submitting a letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. The resignation came amid escalating political tensions, unresolved ethnic violence, and growing dissent within the state BJP. While Singh’s resignation letter expressed gratitude to the central BJP government for its “timely actions” and highlighted key priorities—such as border security, anti-drug efforts, and territorial integrity—it conspicuously avoided addressing his government’s failures or the prolonged crisis in Manipur.
Governor’s Response and Assembly Session Nullified
The Governor promptly accepted Singh’s resignation but asked him to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until “alternative arrangements” were made. Concurrently, the Governor’s Secretariat notified the 7th Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, scheduled to begin on January 24, 2025, as “null and void” under Article 174(1) of the Constitution. This move effectively blocked the Assembly from convening, pre-empting any potential no-confidence motion against Singh’s government.
The timing of these actions raises questions about the BJP’s strategy to sidestep accountability. By nullifying the Assembly session, the Governor—acting on the advice of the central BJP leadership—prevented dissenting MLAs, including those from the Kuki-Zo community, from tabling a no-confidence motion. This manoeuvre suggests a tactical choice to dissolve or delay assembly sessions to shield the government from legislative challenges.
Political observers and critics in Manipur argue that the BJP’s central leadership has prioritized retaining power through bureaucratic and constitutional manoeuvres rather than resolving Manipur’s crises. The declaration of the proposed Assembly session as “null and void” undermines democratic processes and reflects a pattern of central overreach in state affairs.
Biren Singh’s Governance: A Critical Assessment
Biren Singh’s tenure since 2022 has been marked by escalating violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, unchecked drug trafficking, and Indo-Myanmar border issues. His government failed to implement lasting solutions, relying instead on heavy-handed measures and rhetoric about “illegal immigration.”
The current conflict spiralled into an unresolvable situation under Singh’s watch, despite his admission that he had no control over the unified command overseeing security operations in Manipur. Over 200 lives were lost, and 60,000 people were displaced, yet his administration lacked a coherent reconciliation plan and failed to exercise powers under the spirit of federal India.
Key decisions, including security operations and policy interventions, were directed by the BJP-led central government, bypassing state mechanisms. This effectively side-lined Singh’s authority and exposed the state’s administrative paralysis.
The Manipur BJP unit has been fractured since May 3, 2023, with at least 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs openly criticizing Singh’s alleged majoritarian policies. Their dissent, along with opposition from some Meitei BJP MLAs, threatened the government’s stability. This prompted the central leadership to orchestrate Singh’s resignation to avoid a public floor test. Notably, Singh was unable to take action against his own BJP members who were demanding separate administration or Union Territory status with a legislature for the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas of Manipur. His political rhetoric on Manipur’s territorial integrity has also been questioned due to his inaction against the Kuki-Zo MLAs, some of whom were part of his council of ministers.
The BJP central leadership’s approach to Manipur has been seen as contradictory. While it has promoted initiatives like biometric border mechanisms and anti-drug campaigns, it has neglected grassroots dialogue to address ethnic grievances. The state’s collapse in law and order has been met with militarized responses, further exacerbating distrust among communities.
A Crisis of Accountability
Biren Singh’s resignation and the Governor’s swift actions underscore a broader trend of political manipulation to evade accountability. The BJP’s focus on retaining power—through constitutional shortcuts and central diktats—has come at the cost of democratic norms and Manipur’s stability. As Singh remains caretaker Chief Minister, questions linger about the legitimacy of the transition and the central government’s commitment to resolving Manipur’s crises. Without inclusive governance and urgent reconciliation efforts, the cycle of violence and political opportunism is likely to persist.
The key takeaways from the past 24 hours include the resignation and assembly session cancellation, which can be perceived as BJP tactics to block a no-confidence motion. Moreover, it should be noted that Biren Singh’s government failed to address ethnic strife, relying on ineffective central intervention rather than local solutions. Democratic processes are being undermined, prioritizing political survival over conflict resolution. While this move may pacify dissent within the BJP in Manipur to some extent, it is unlikely to bring about significant change, such as replacing N. Biren Singh with dissenting BJP MLAs—whether from the Kuki-Zo or Meitei communities.
Marginalisation of Dissent in the Indian Political System
Dissent within Indian political parties has historically been met with marginalization rather than elevation, reflecting a systemic preference for loyalty over internal critique. National parties have consistently side-lined leaders who openly challenge their core leadership, with many facing expulsion or political irrelevance after criticizing the party line or state leadership. The rise of dissenters through rebellion and external alliances has not been encouraged within party hierarchies, at least in India.
This trend underscores a rigid top-down control mechanism, where dissent is viewed as disloyalty, effectively disqualifying leaders from ascending to key roles such as Chief Minister or national party president. This scenario appears to be unfolding in Manipur as well. The BJP central leadership is unlikely to choose a leader from the rebel MLAs’ faction. Exceptions to this norm are rare and usually depend on political expediency rather than principle. For this reason, political observers speculate that none of the dissenting MLAs will succeed N. Biren Singh or be appointed as Manipur’s next Chief Minister.
(Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the views of EastMojo on this or any other issue. The author is the Editor-in-Chief of The Frontier Manipur.
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