In a significant political development, the President’s Rule has been imposed in violence-hit Manipur, days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned in the face of a no-confidence motion threat from the opposition Congress. This marks the 11th time since 1951 that Article 356 of the Indian Constitution has been invoked in the northeastern state.
A communiqué from the office of President Droupadi Murmu confirmed the decision, stating that after receiving a report from Governor Ajay Bhalla and reviewing additional information, she was satisfied that “a situation has arisen in which the Government of that State cannot be carried on by the provisions of the Constitution of India.”
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Political Stalemate and Constitutional Crisis
The decision to impose President’s Rule came as the ruling BJP failed to reach a consensus on selecting a new Chief Minister, leaving the state in a constitutional crisis. According to Article 174(1) of the Indian Constitution, a state assembly must be convened within six months of its last sitting. Manipur’s last sitting took place on August 12, 2024, and with no new session convened, the deadline expired on February 13, necessitating central intervention.
Biren Singh resigned from his post after facing intense internal dissent and political pressure. His resignation followed discussions with the BJP’s central leadership in Delhi. Despite efforts by BJP’s northeast in-charge, Sambit Patra, to mediate discussions with party MLAs in Imphal, no consensus was reached.
BJP state president A Sarda Devi clarified that while the assembly remains in “suspended animation,” it has not been dissolved, leaving room for future restoration of the state’s legislative process.
Persistent Ethnic Violence and Political Turmoil
Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, with over 200 lives lost and the state struggling to return to normalcy. The prolonged violence fueled political turmoil, with the opposition Congress repeatedly accusing both the central and state governments of failing to restore peace. The situation worsened in November when the National People’s Party (NPP), which had seven MLAs, withdrew support from the BJP-led government.
Further controversy arose over leaked audio tapes, which the Congress alleged contained evidence of Biren Singh instigating violence. A forensic analysis by Truth Labs reportedly confirmed a 93% match between Singh’s voice and the tapes. The matter is currently under review by the Supreme Court, which has sought a report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory.
Congress Reacts
The imposition of the President’s Rule has been met with strong reactions from the opposition Congress, which had been demanding such action for nearly 20 months. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh remarked, “Finally what the Indian National Congress has been demanding for almost 20 months has happened. This is a belated admission by the BJP of their complete inability to govern Manipur.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the BJP’s handling of the crisis. “This has come after the BJP and its allies got a huge majority in February 2022, but their politics led to a colossal tragedy just fifteen months later,” he posted on social media.
Union Government Takes Over
Following the notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), President Droupadi Murmu formally assumed control of Manipur’s governance. The official notification stated, “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 that State.”
The imposition of the President’s Rule marks a turning point for Manipur, bringing the state under direct rule of the Union government after 23 years. The future course of action will depend on how swiftly the political deadlock is resolved and stability is restored in the state.
