Manipur: CM Biren Singh quits in alleged effort to quell state BJP rebels

Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh has reportedly resigned in an effort to satisfy dissident elements within the state BJP who had risen in revolt against his leadership. Simultaneously, his government was facing the possibility of a Congress no-confidence motion and a floor test. The chief minister handed his resignation to governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla this evening. 

On Friday, 7 February, Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra had said the party would move a no-confidence motion against the Biren Singh government in the state assembly. In a post on X, Meghachandra wrote, "Brahmastra Missile will surely hit one of the Double Engine! Congress party set to move No Confidence Motion anytime soon".

The senior Congress leader, however, had declined to share further details following the post.

While the BJP has the required majority in the assembly despite the withdrawal of support by ally Conrad Sangma's National Peoples' Party, there was a possibility that the MLAs who sought a change in the state leadership would have disobeyed a party whip in case of a floor test.

The Congress has only five MLAs in the 60-member Manipur assembly, while the NPP has seven. The BJP has 32 MLAs as well as the support of five Naga People's Front MLAs and six JD(U) MLAs. There are also three independent MLAs and two legislators of the Kuki Peoples' Alliance.

The chief minister's decision to step down is being seen as a possible attempt by the BJP central leadership to avert the possibility of the party's dissidence emerging out in the open.

Singh was in Delhi on Sunday morning to meet national president J.P. Nadda and Union home minister Amit Shah. 

Around a dozen BJP MLAs in Manipur have been pushing strongly for a change in leadership, with around six more 'undecided' MLAs, according to sources, who also add that the speaker and chief minister have allegedly had "differences". 

On his visit to the governor this evening, Singh was accompanied by 14 MLAs belonging to the BJP and NPF. State BJP president A. Sharda and senior party leader Sambit Patra were also part of the delegation. After meeting the governor, Singh went to the CM secretariat.

In his letter to the governor, Singh said, "It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur thus far. I am extremely grateful to the Central government for timely actions, interventions, developmental work and implementation of various projects for safeguarding the interests of every single Manipuri."

On Saturday, Singh convened a meeting with the BJP-led ruling alliance MLAs at the secretariat in connection with the upcoming assembly session beginning 10 February. The meeting was held in the wake of the Congress' potential no-confidence motion against the government.

With PTI inputs