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IMPHAL, AUGUST 7: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who is now the head of the Manipur Pradesh BJP, has publicly expressed the reasons for the first time, after resigning. Speaking on Wednesday, Singh said that he was forced to resign due to the worsening situation in the state and on the direction of central leaders.
His statement came a day after Parliament granted an extension of President’s Rule in Manipur up to February 13, 2026. The state is under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, after extended instability and unrest precipitated by ethnic clashes.
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Making a statement to the media during the 5-Day Ipudhou Marjing Expo 2025 at the Marjing Polo Tourism Complex, an event organized in his own assembly constituency, Singh asserted that Manipur’s people are suffering and long for the return of a democratically elected government. He stressed that keeping President’s Rule going would only extend the suffering and undermine public confidence.
Answering queries on the political situation, Singh stated that the people obviously realize the situation that prompted imposition of President’s Rule. He alleged that governance had further deteriorated without having an elected government and asserted that even incumbent MLAs were now hesitant to go to government offices because of the prevailing uncertainty.
Comparing the current government under central rule to the earlier elected government, Singh argued that the state ran better when it had a popular mandate. He asked the Centre to reinstate a democratic government in Manipur so that it could respond to the grievances of the people and consolidate the region.
Nevertheless, top leaders have justified President’s Rule saying that the law and order situation has enormously improved in recent months. This is contrary to the ground reports, which still point out tensions in sections of the state.
Manipur has been struggling through ethnic violence between two competing communities since May 3, 2023. On February 12, 2025, the violence had left more than 260 dead. Even during President’s Rule, there has been unrest—most recently when central security personnel fired on Churachandpur district and killed a person.
The Ipudhou Marjing Expo 2025, organized jointly by the Centre for Research on Environmental Development (CRED) and the North East Women Entrepreneurs Association (NEWEA), is ongoing in Singh’s assembly constituency.
