Biren Singh Resigns: Meanings for Manipur

N Biren Singh’s resignation as Chief Minister of Manipur on February 9 marked a significant turning point in the state’s ongoing political turmoil, which has been exacerbated by ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023. Singh’s departure follows mounting pressure from within his own Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition, particularly as the Congress party prepared to introduce a no-confidence motion against his government.

Singh’s tenure has been marred by allegations of his government’s failure to effectively manage the ethnic conflict, which has resulted in over 250 deaths and the displacement of thousands. His resignation came shortly after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, where discussions likely revolved around the escalating dissent among BJP legislators and the deteriorating security situation in Manipur.

Singh’s resignation letter expressed gratitude to the central government for its interventions but notably did not address the governance challenges that led to his ousting. Following his resignation, the Governor of Manipur declared the upcoming assembly session null and void, raising questions about the future political landscape in the state. The BJP now faces the challenge of selecting a new leader who can navigate the complex ethnic dynamics and restore stability, while the potential for President’s Rule looms if a consensus candidate cannot be established.

Jargon

no-confidence motion: A formal proposal in a legislative assembly to remove a sitting government or leader, indicating that the majority no longer supports them.
ethnic conflict: A dispute or violence between different ethnic groups, often arising from issues of identity, resources, or political power.
President’s Rule: A provision under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution allowing the central government to take over the governance of a state when the state government is unable to function according to constitutional provisions.

Viewpoints 💭

‘Left’ Viewpoint

Ideological Differences

‘Right’ Viewpoint

The resignation of N Biren Singh is seen as a delayed response to the ongoing ethnic violence and political instability in Manipur, which the Congress and other opposition parties attribute to his leadership failures.
Opposition leaders criticise the BJP for allowing Singh to remain in power despite the prolonged unrest, accusing the central government of neglecting the state’s issues.
The Congress views Singh’s resignation as a strategic move by the BJP to avoid a no-confidence motion and shield the party from accountability for the violence.
There is a call for Prime Minister Modi to visit Manipur and take direct action to address the crisis, with opposition leaders emphasising the need for a comprehensive plan to restore peace.
The resignation is perceived as a superficial attempt by the BJP to manage the crisis without addressing the root causes of the ethnic conflict, with demands for a more genuine political solution.

The left criticises Singh’s resignation as overdue and a strategic move to avoid accountability, while the right views it as a necessary step to address internal dissent and restore stability.
Opposition parties demand direct intervention from Prime Minister Modi, emphasising the need for a comprehensive plan to restore peace, whereas the BJP focuses on administrative interventions and leadership change.
The left perceives the resignation as a superficial attempt to manage the crisis without addressing root causes, while the right sees it as an opportunity to engage in peace talks and address ethnic tensions.
The Congress accuses the BJP of neglecting Manipur’s issues and allowing Singh to remain in power despite the violence, while the BJP highlights Singh’s resignation as a commitment to resolving the conflict.
The left calls for a more genuine political solution to the ethnic conflict, whereas the right prioritises maintaining territorial integrity and addressing security challenges through leadership change.

N Biren Singh’s resignation is portrayed as a necessary step to address internal dissent within the BJP and to prevent the collapse of the government amid ethnic violence.
The BJP emphasises the need for a leadership change to restore stability in Manipur, with the central leadership prioritising administrative interventions over dialogue.
Singh’s resignation is seen as a move to facilitate peace efforts and demonstrate the government’s commitment to resolving the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
The central government is optimistic about engaging Kuki leaders in peace talks following Singh’s resignation, viewing it as an opportunity to address their concerns.
The BJP maintains that Singh’s resignation was in the interest of Manipur’s future, with a focus on maintaining territorial integrity and addressing issues like border infiltration and drug trafficking.

Prominent Voices 📣

From the ‘Left’

From the ‘Right’

Rahul Gandhi (Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha): Criticised Biren Singh for instigating division and blamed PM Modi for allowing him to continue, emphasising the need for restoring peace in Manipur. ¹ ²
Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President): Criticised Singh’s resignation as too late and blamed Prime Minister Modi for neglecting Manipur, highlighting the violence and displacement in the state. ¹ ³
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (Congress General Secretary): Criticised the timing of Singh’s resignation, stating it should have happened earlier due to the ongoing unrest under his leadership. ¹ ⁴
Jairam Ramesh (Congress General Secretary): Criticised Singh’s resignation as overdue and highlighted the central government’s lack of attention to Manipur. ¹ ²
Mahua Moitra (TMC Leader): Described Singh’s resignation as the end of a disgraceful period, attributing it to political pressure rather than ethical considerations. ¹ ⁵

Kirti Azad (TMC Leader): Criticised the BJP for failing to address the atrocities in Manipur and suggested the resignation was delayed. ¹ ⁶
Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena UBT Leader): Criticised the PM for not visiting Manipur despite the violence and held the CM responsible. ¹
Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena UBT MP): Described Singh’s resignation as too little, too late, and suggested BJP feared a no-confidence motion. ¹
Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD MP): Described Singh’s resignation as too little, too late. ¹
Chandra Shekhar Azad (Azad Samaj Party MP): Called for legal action against Singh and criticised the central government for failing to act. ¹

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N Biren Singh (Caretaker Chief Minister of Manipur): Expressed gratitude to the central government for its support and highlighted key priorities for the state. ⁷ ⁸
Amit Shah (Union Home Minister): Emphasised the need for dialogue between the Kuki and Meitei communities to resolve the ongoing conflict. ⁹ ¹⁰
Pratap Chandra Sarangi (BJP MP): Assured people that the situation in Manipur is under control and that the Congress is disturbing the state. ¹
A Sharda Devi (BJP Manipur Chief): Stated that Singh resigned for the state’s future and denied any differences among BJP legislators. ¹¹ ¹²
Yumnam Khemchand Singh (Manipur Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister): Warned the BJP leadership that the government might collapse if Singh was not replaced. ¹³

Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP national president): Expressed deep concern over the law and order situation and announced the withdrawal of NPP’s support from the government. ¹³ ¹⁴
Satyabrata Singh (BJP Leader): Said that the BJP must prioritise restoring normalcy and trust in Manipur post-resignation. ¹⁵
Thokchom Radheshyam Singh (BJP Leader): Said that the party needs to address the radicalisation and insurgency issues effectively. ¹⁵
Dilip Saikia (BJP MP): Stated that the party will decide on the next course of action following Singh’s resignation. ¹⁶
Shiekh Noorul Hassan (NPP MLA and legislative party head): Expressed that the resignation of Biren Singh is a positive development for restoring peace in Manipur and reiterated the NPP’s commitment to working with the BJP as part of the NDA alliance. ¹⁷