Leadership Crisis Sparks Political Tumult in Manipur

The Manipur Congress leader, Keisham Meghachandra, attributes the enforcement of President's rule in Manipur to a leadership crisis within the BJP and indecision over picking a new chief minister. The unrest follows Chief Minister N Biren Singh's resignation, leading to political instability in the region.

A leadership crisis within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Manipur has culminated in the imposition of President's rule, according to Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra. The central BJP leadership's struggle to reach a consensus on a successor to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who submitted his resignation after widespread ethnic violence ravaged the state, is at the core of the issue.

President's rule was enforced after Singh's exit, plunging the state assembly into suspended animation just days later. This action follows Singh's nearly 21-month tenure during which over 250 lives were lost to ethnic strife. With the assembly's term set to continue until 2027, there is uncertainty surrounding the political future of Manipur.

Meghachandra pressed the Union government and Prime Minister Modi to take responsibility for resolving the crisis and safeguarding Manipur's territorial and administrative integrity. Meanwhile, Manipur BJP president A Sharda clarified that the assembly has not been dissolved but merely placed under suspended animation, adhering to constitutional protocol.

(With inputs from agencies.)