Manipur CM Biren Singh Steps Down Amid Escalating Ethnic Tensions

The Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, submitted his resignation on Sunday, nearly two years after ethnic conflicts erupted in the state. The BJP leader presented his resignation letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal.

In his correspondence to the governor, Singh expressed, “It has been an [experience] thus far. I am immensely thankful to the central government for [its] timely actions, interventions, developmental efforts, and the implementation of various initiatives aimed at protecting the interests of every single Manipuri.”

Biren’s resignation came shortly after his return from Delhi. On Saturday, Singh convened a meeting with the MLAs of the BJP-led ruling coalition at the CM Secretariat to discuss the upcoming assembly session starting February 10.

The meeting was organized in response to the opposition’s decision to initiate a [no-confidence motion] against the Singh-led government.

On Saturday, he stated that his administration has been making every effort to restore tranquility in the strife-ridden northeastern state and to ensure that communities coexist as they used to.

“The state government is doing everything within its power to restore peace and to ensure that people can live together harmoniously as before,” the chief minister remarked.

Congress responds to Biren’s resignation

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh commented on X, characterizing the CM’s resignation as “belated.” He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, “The residents of Manipur are now hoping for a visit from our Frequent Flier PM, who is currently off to France and the USA—having neither the time nor the desire to visit Manipur in the past twenty months.”

Additionally, Congress leader Udit Raj responded to Biren’s resignation, stating, “…When the Congress was calling for his removal at the appropriate time, he was not dismissed…A rift has been created between the two communities permanently.”

“This government should not have been allowed to persist for so long. Dismissing the CM after everything has gone awry does not make any sense….,” Raj told news agency ANI.

Background of the Manipur violence

In May 2023, the northeastern state of Manipur experienced ethnic strife between the Meitei community, predominantly located in the Imphal Valley, and [groups] from the surrounding hills.

This conflict erupted over a contention regarding an affirmative action policy, specifically the Meitei community’s request for Scheduled Tribe status, which ignited protests and confrontations.

A march organized by [the Kuki community] on May 3, 2023, opposing this demand, led to clashes and an escalation of violence.

The initial riots included assaults on homes and property, with violence swiftly spreading to both Kuki-dominated and Meitei-dominated areas, targeting minority groups.

Death toll from the Manipur violence

Over 250 individuals have lost their lives, with thousands left homeless since the onset of ethnic violence in Manipur in May 2023.

Reuters reported that in the very first week, seven Kukis and 10 Meiteis were killed.

By the middle of May 2023, government statistics indicated 73 deaths, 243 injuries, and the destruction of 1,809 houses, displacing over 46,000 individuals. The violence resulted in tremendous loss of life, displacement, and devastation of property, significantly impacting the region.