President’s Rule Imposed in Manipur; Assembly Placed Under Suspended Animation

Four days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned, the central government on Thursday imposed President’s Rule in Manipur, putting the state assembly on hold. This marks a major shift in a state that has been struggling with ethnic violence since May 2023.

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President Droupadi Murmu decided after receiving a report from Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. It came just hours after both Houses of Parliament adjourned until March 10 for the next part of the Budget session.

Security Tightened Before the Decision

Before the announcement, police and intelligence agencies were closely watching key individuals to prevent any trouble.

The BJP-led state government collapsed on February 9, when Biren Singh stepped down after meeting Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda in Delhi. Soon after, the Governor canceled the planned Assembly session on February 10.

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Political Situation in Manipur

The Manipur Assembly has 60 seats, but after the recent death of NPP MLA N. Kayisii, the current strength is 59.

Here’s how the numbers stand:

• BJP: 37 MLAs
• NPP: 6 MLAs
• NPF: 5 MLAs
• Congress: 5 MLAs
• Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA): 2 MLAs
• JD(U): 1 MLA
• Independents: 3 MLAs

Both NPP and KPA withdrew support from the BJP government after violence broke out. However, two NPP MLAs continued to support Biren Singh even after the party officially pulled out.

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Why Was the President’s Rule Imposed?

A notification issued by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan said the President had reviewed the situation and found that the state government could no longer function properly.

“I (the President) am taking over all functions of the Manipur government, along with the powers of the Governor and the State Assembly,” the notification said, referring to Article 356 of the Constitution. This means the central government will now run Manipur, and the state assembly will remain suspended.

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BJP’s Struggle to Find a New CM

The BJP had been trying to decide on a new Chief Minister, with Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra holding meetings in Imphal with BJP MLAs and allies like the NPF and NPP. However, since they couldn’t agree on a candidate, the Centre imposed the President’s Rule instead.

Some BJP leaders also suggested that central rule would help in cracking down on armed groups in the state, especially in both the hills and the valley regions.

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Mixed Reactions from Political and Ethnic Groups

The Congress party strongly opposed the move, with its state president K. Meghachandra Singh saying:

“The BJP government has completely failed, and the state has been ruined in the past 20 months. This decision ignores the Constitution and the people’s mandate.”

However, Kuki-Zo groups, who had been demanding the President’s Rule, welcomed the decision.

“This is better than just replacing the Chief Minister. The Kuki-Zo community no longer trusts the Meitei leadership. President’s Rule gives us hope and brings us closer to a political solution,” said Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF).

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What Happens Next?

With President’s Rule now in place, the central government will run Manipur until further notice. The next step will be whether the BJP can decide on a new Chief Minister or if central rule can continue for a longer period to stabilize the state.

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