NEW DELHI – The Indian federal government has taken direct control of Manipur, a conflict-ridden northeastern state, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh amid escalating ethnic clashes. The imposition of President’s Rule was announced on Thursday, transferring governance to federally-appointed Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
Manipur has been in turmoil since 2023, witnessing violent confrontations between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities, sparked by a court’s proposal to extend economic benefits and job quotas to the Meiteis. The conflict has resulted in at least 250 deaths and thousands displaced over the past two years.
In an official notification, President Droupadi Murmu stated that governing the state under constitutional provisions was no longer feasible, based on reports from the Manipur governor and other sources. Singh, a Meitei leader and member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), resigned last week but was asked to continue until an alternative leadership was arranged.
Political instability intensified after the National People’s Party, a key BJP ally, withdrew from the ruling coalition in November, citing Singh’s failure to resolve the crisis. However, recent reports indicate the party has rejoined the coalition.
The Modi government has partially attributed the violence to an influx of refugees from Myanmar, which borders Manipur. Singh had earlier suggested that the state could see stability return by 2025. Manipur’s population of 3.2 million consists of around 16% Meiteis, who dominate the lowlands, and 16% Kukis, who inhabit the hilly regions, further deepening ethnic divisions in the state.