Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from his post on Sunday, submitting his resignation letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. His resignation comes just ahead of the state assembly's Budget session.

Before stepping down, Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda in Delhi for over two hours. Reports suggest that he has been tasked with leading the government until a new Chief Minister takes charge.

In his resignation letter, Singh expressed gratitude to the central government for its support and initiatives in Manipur. He urged the Centre to continue backing key development projects for the welfare of the state.

Political Unrest and Congress Reaction

Singh’s resignation follows persistent demands for his removal since ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities erupted in May 2023. Although he initially decided to step down in July 2023, protests from his supporters forced him to withdraw his resignation at the time.

Reacting to the resignation, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called it a "belated" move. In a post on X, he stated, "The Congress was all set to move a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers in the Manipur Assembly tomorrow. Sensing the climate, the Manipur CM has just resigned."

He further criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the violence-hit state, saying, "The people of Manipur now await a visit by our Frequent Flier PM who is off to France and the USA now – and who has found neither the time nor the inclination to go to Manipur these past twenty months."

Assembly Dynamics and Next Steps

In the 60-member Manipur Assembly, the BJP holds 32 seats and is supported by the Naga People's Front (5 MLAs), JD(U) (6 MLAs), three Independent MLAs, and two from the Kuki Peoples' Alliance. Meanwhile, Congress has five MLAs, and the NPP, another opposition party, has seven legislators.