Imphal: In a dramatic political development, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Sunday, following months of escalating ethnic violence that has claimed over 250 lives and left thousands homeless.
The decision comes on the heels of the Opposition Congress preparing to move a no-confidence motion against Singh’s leadership in the Assembly session starting tomorrow.
Interestingly, he met top BJP leaders in Delhi on Sunday. This is Singh’s second visit to the national capital in the past four days. .
In a written statement, Singh expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s been an honour to serve the people of Manipur thus far.”
He also thanked the central government for its timely interventions and for taking steps to safeguard the welfare of Manipuris.
The statement also acknowledged the various developmental projects and actions taken to address the crisis, further underlining his commitment to the people.
Amidst the ethnic violence, Singh had previously attempted to resign but did not following public outcry urging him to remain in office.
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However, Singh’s resignation comes at a time when his leadership has been heavily scrutinised.
The chief minister has been accused of playing a role in exacerbating the ethnic violence, with leaked audio clips making rounds that allegedly involve Singh in inflammatory remarks linked to the unrest.
The authenticity of these clips has raised serious concerns, and the Supreme Court of India ordered a forensic investigation to verify the legitimacy of the audio evidence.
Amidst this turmoil, he publicly apologised to both groups, urging them to come together and restore harmony in the state.
As Manipur continues to reel from the ongoing violence, Singh’s resignation has raised questions about the future of governance in the state and the effectiveness of any steps taken to address the deep-rooted ethnic tensions.
