Manipur remained uncertain on Tuesday as the Union government awaited the emergence of an alternative leadership within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh two days ago.
With the last Manipur Assembly session held on August 12, 2024, the six-month constitutional deadline for convening a new session lapses on February 12, 2025. However, sources indicated that the Centre may delay a decision on imposing President’s Rule, The Hindu reported.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla had not issued any notification summoning the Assembly as of Tuesday. According to The Hindu, a government official cited a 2002 Supreme Court ruling in the Bharatbhai Bhagwanjibhai vs State of Gujarat case, stating that failure to adhere to the six-month timeframe under Article 174(1) does not automatically warrant the imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356.
Following Singh’s resignation on February 9, no political party—including the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress—had staked a claim to form the government. Singh continues to serve as the caretaker Chief Minister while the Governor prepares a report on the evolving constitutional crisis.
A senior official further told the news outlet that the President may seek legal consultation before deciding on the matter. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently traveling abroad, it remains uncertain when the Union Cabinet will convene to discuss President’s Rule in Manipur.
Sambit Patra, the BJP’s in-charge for the Northeast, held a second consecutive day of closed-door meetings with BJP legislators and allied NDA members in Imphal.
However, no consensus has been reached on Singh’s successor at the time of filing this report.
Reports suggest that the State BJP remains divided between pro- and anti-Biren Singh factions. Patra, along with State BJP president A. Sharda Devi and other legislators, met Governor Bhalla on Tuesday after discussions with Singh, further indicating internal discord.
Meanwhile, some BJP MLAs told reporters that the central leadership would nominate the next Chief Minister at an appropriate time.
Amid the political uncertainty, Lt Gen Abhijit S Pendharkar, chief of the Army’s 3 Corps in Nagaland, visited Imphal on Tuesday to review the “operational preparedness” of security forces in Manipur.
The Manipur government also issued an appeal urging citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading or believing misinformation. A statement from Chief Secretary PK Singh warned of attempts by “unscrupulous individuals and groups” to incite unrest and disrupt harmony. The government provided a control room number for the public to verify news and urged community leaders, civil society groups, and citizens to prioritize peace.
The political turmoil was further compounded by the abduction of senior journalist Yambem Laba in the early hours of Tuesday. Around 20 armed men abducted Laba from his residence at 3:30 a.m., releasing him approximately ten hours later at 1 p.m.
Laba, a former member of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, has been a vocal critic of Singh. His family believes the abduction was linked to his televised remarks on Monday regarding the ongoing crisis and the role of armed groups.
This incident follows an attack on his house by unidentified gunmen a few days earlier, reportedly in retaliation for a Facebook post criticizing Singh and a radical armed group.
With Manipur’s leadership in limbo and security concerns mounting, the state faces an increasingly volatile situation in the coming days. (With inputs from The Hindu)
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