N Biren Singh Steps Down As Manipur CM After Meeting Amit Shah, Governor Bhalla Calls Off Assembly Session

In a significant political development, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on Sunday (9 February), nearly two years after ethnic violence erupted in the northeastern state.

He submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal.

In his resignation letter, Singh expressed gratitude to the central government for its interventions and developmental initiatives aimed at safeguarding the interests of all Manipuris.

"It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur thus far. I am extremely grateful to the central government for time actions, interventions, developmental work and implementation of various projects for safeguarding the interests of every single Manipur," Singh said in his letter.

His resignation came shortly after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, following which he returned to Manipur.

The political landscape in Manipur has been tumultuous, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holding 32 seats in the 60-member Assembly.

Despite support from five Naga People's Front legislators and six from the Janata Dal (United), the government faced challenges, especially after the National People's Party withdrew its support in November 2024.

This development led to speculation about a potential no-confidence motion by the Congress-led opposition during the upcoming Assembly session.

However, following Singh's resignation, Governor Bhalla issued an order declaring the previously scheduled Assembly session, which was scheduled to commence today (10 February), as "null and void."

The state has been grappling with ethnic violence since May 2023, resulting in over 250 fatalities and displacing approximately 60,000 people.

The conflict primarily involves the Meitei and Kuki communities, with tensions arising over economic benefits and job quotas.

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