NEW DELHI — President's
rule was imposed in strife-torn Manipur on Thursday and the state assembly put
under suspended animation, days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned
from his post that led to political uncertainty in the northeastern state.
The Manipur assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been
put under suspended animation, according to a notification issued by the
Ministry of Home Affairs.
Singh, who was heading the BJP government in Manipur,
resigned as chief minister after nearly 21 months of ethnic violence that has
claimed over 250 lives so far.
He resigned on February 9 and submitted his resignation to
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in Imphal, hours after his meeting with Union Home
Minister Amit Shah here.
The decision to impose the central rule was taken after the
governor sent a report to President Droupadi Murmu.
"After considering the report and other information
received by me, I am satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the
government of that state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions
of the Constitution of India," the notification said.
It further said: "Now, therefore, in exercise of the
powers conferred by article 356 of the Constitution, and of all other powers
enabling me in that behalf, I hereby proclaim that I - assume to myself as
President of India all functions of the government of the state of Manipur and
all powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor of the that state".
The notification said powers of the legislature of the state
shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament.
It also said any reference in the Constitution to the
governor shall, in relation to Manipur be construed as a reference to the
President.
The decision to impose the President's rule by the BJP-led
Centre came as the party failed to have a consensus chief ministerial candidate
despite having several rounds of discussions between party's northeast
in-charge Sambit Patra and party legislators. Patra had met Bhalla a few times
before Thursday's decision by the central government that comes at a time when
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the US.
The governor has already declared the seventh session of the
12th Manipur Legislative assembly, which was set to commence on February 10, as
null and void.
The last session of the assembly in the restive state
concluded on August 12, 2024.
Singh's tenure as chief minister was marked by a number of
controversies, primarily centred on his handling of ethnic violence,
allegations of instigating conflict, and questions regarding his governance.
Singh, who started as a footballer and then became a
journalist before entering politics, served as the chief minister for two terms
- 2017 and 2022. He represents the Heingang assembly constituency in Imphal
East district.
In 2022, he managed to win the approval of his party to get
a second term as chief minister.
The journey since then has been not without hiccups.
One of the most significant controversies of Singh's tenure
was the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023 that finally cost him the key
post.
The ethnic strife, which saw brutal clashes between the
majority Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo tribal groups in
the surrounding hills, resulted in over 250 deaths and displaced thousands of
people. The state's inability to contain it raised serious concerns about
Singh's leadership.
Singh's response to the violence, however, included a public
apology in December 2023, where he expressed regret for the deaths and
displacement caused by the unrest.
He called for reconciliation, urging the various communities
to forgive past mistakes and work toward rebuilding a peaceful Manipur.
In February, a new controversy erupted when audio tapes
allegedly featuring Singh were leaked, in which he was purportedly heard
discussing how the ethnic violence was instigated with his approval.
Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), a vocal
critic of Singh's handling of the ethnic conflict, sought a court-monitored
investigation into the authenticity of the tapes.
This led to a Supreme Court ruling ordering the Central
Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to verify the tapes’ authenticity and submit
a report.
Singh's resignation came amidst dwindling support among BJP
MLAs, many of whom have met party leaders in Delhi to convey their unhappiness
with his continuation and had expressed the hope that his stepping down will
help boost the central government's efforts to broker peace between the two
main ethnic communities in the state.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) said
President's rule will give a ray of hope to the Kuki-Zo community.
"The Kuki-Zo do not trust Meiteis anymore, so a new
Meitei chief minister is still far from comforting. President's Rule will give
a ray of hope to the Kuki-Zo, and we believe that it will be one step closer to
our political solution," ITLF leader Ginza Vualzong said.
