After 21 months of resistance by Kuki-Zo leaders, declining support in the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley, opposition demands for resignation, and a key NDA ally withdrawing support, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh finally stepped down on Sunday. The situation reached its critical moment from his party colleagues in the Valley who pushed for his removal.
Kuki-Zo groups and 10 MLAs from the community, including seven from BJP—two of whom held ministerial positions—held Singh responsible for the ethnic conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023. Internal dissent within BJP the escalated, and MLAs from the Valley repeatedly sought intervention from the party’s central leadership, including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in October 2024, demanding Singh’s replacement. However, the BJP leadership continued to back him until now.
Budget Session and No-Confidence Threat Trigger Exit
The beginning of the Manipur Assembly Budget session forced Singh to resign in the immediate situation. Dismayed dissident BJP MLAs were up in arms, demanding fulfillment of demands and threatening support for a no-confidence motion moved by Congress on the treasury bench.
As the chasm in the party widened, two factions supported Biren Singh and demanded his removal. Sources disclosed that speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, known to be a vocal critic of CM, met BJP president J P Nadda in New Delhi last week. He reportedly told Nadda that he would not be able to stop the no-confidence motion from being introduced.
On February 3, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Manipur’s Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister and another critic of Biren Singh, also met BJP leaders in Delhi. He warned them that the state government could collapse if the CM was not replaced. By February 4, Governor A K Bhalla briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the escalating crisis.
Delhi Meetings Seal the Fate of Biren Singh
On February 5, Biren Singh traveled to Delhi but was reportedly unable to meet Amit Shah. Following this, he and his loyalists attended the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. However, as pressure intensified with the Assembly session approaching, Singh flew to Delhi again on Saturday. After a two-hour discussion with Shah and Nadda on Sunday, the decision was made—he would have to step down.
“Everything has a time, place and a situation. Yes, we have been pushing this for long but the MLAs decided not to wait anymore. We have the majority of the MLAs on our side, from the BJP, the NPF (Naga People’s Front), and the NPP (National People’s Party),” said a BJP MLA involved in the push for Singh’s resignation.
Strategic Moves by BJP Leadership
To regain stability, the BJP-led central government had already taken steps to enhance border security and law enforcement. Among these steps were the appointment of former Union Home Secretary A K Bhalla as Manipur’s Governor and a significant overhaul of the state’s bureaucracy.
A BJP source explained, “A no-confidence motion and the fall of the government would have derailed these attempts. The national leadership did not want these efforts to be overshadowed either. The spectacular win in Delhi has just given them more confidence to take such a step.”
Supreme Court Scrutiny and Electoral Setback
The Supreme Court’s recent directive seeking a sealed-cover report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory added further pressure on the BJP leadership. The laboratory is analyzing “leaked audio tapes” that allegedly implicate Singh in fueling the ethnic violence. Based on these tapes, the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust has demanded an independent probe into Singh’s role in the conflict, which has resulted in over 200 deaths.
Despite BJP support to Singh, his leadership had been a liability. The defeat of the NDA in both the Lok Sabha seats in Manipur last year, which it once held was a reflection of increasing public distrust in his government. Public anger against his government was building up, and MLA homes were attacked.
Public anger against the state BJP leadership reached a boiling point in November. Following the abduction and murder of six Meitei women and children, mobs vandalized the homes of MLAs and ministers, including Biren Singh. The unrest deepened discontent within the party.
NPP president Conrad Sangma had then announced that his party, which had seven MLAs, would withdraw support from the Singh-led government. He specifically cited “leadership failure” as the reason.
What’s Next for Manipur?
The selection of new leadership can be expected by the BJP party which should help stabilize the party and government. The party leadership will look for candidates who are not only stabilizing intraparty conflicts but also ethnic group disputes. Only time will tell whether this transition will bring about stability or further political unrest.
For now, Singh’s departure marks the end of an era in Manipur politics—one defined by conflict, resilience, and a dramatic political upheaval.