The writing was clearly evident for Chief Minister N Biren Singh following the BJP’s staggering loss in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the party failed to secure any seats in Manipur. With ongoing ethnic conflicts and rising dissent within his own party, his position became increasingly precarious. It was only a matter of time before the BJP leadership decided to remove him.

Singh’s exit follows 21 months of escalating opposition from Kuki-Zo leaders as well as internal strife within the BJP.

His administration had been overshadowed by violent ethnic tensions between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, which erupted on May 3, 2023, resulting in over 200 deaths and thousands displaced. Kuki-Zo groups, along with a faction of 10 MLAs from their community—including seven from the BJP, among them two ministers—held Singh accountable for the mismanagement of the crisis.
Meanwhile, discontent was simmering among Meitei BJP MLAs in the Imphal Valley, many of whom repeatedly urged the central leadership for his replacement. In October 2024, a group of BJP legislators even reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to seek intervention. Despite these appeals, the party leadership continued to support Singh, fearing any upheaval amidst the ongoing ethnic strife.
The situation reached a critical juncture as the Budget session of the Manipur Assembly was set to commence. Dissident BJP MLAs, frustrated by a lack of action from central authorities, contemplated an unprecedented move to ally with the Opposition to introduce a no-confidence motion against Singh’s government.
As tensions heightened, Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh—a known critic of Biren Singh—visited New Delhi last week and informed BJP president J P Nadda about the growing revolt. When questioned about the possibility of blocking a no-confidence motion, the Speaker reportedly indicated he could not prevent it.
Singh’s attempts to rally support from the BJP leadership appeared to be falling short. His visit to Delhi on February 5 reportedly yielded no meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, and after traveling to the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, he was urgently summoned back to Delhi as the crisis intensified.
After an urgent two-hour meeting on Sunday with Shah and Nadda, a decisive choice was made: Singh would resign.
For the BJP leadership, the timing was crucial. The Centre had recently begun efforts to enhance border security and revamp the state administration, including appointing former Union Home Secretary A K Bhalla as Governor and restructuring the bureaucracy. A no-confidence motion could have jeopardized these initiatives.
Additionally, the Supreme Court’s order to investigate leaked audio tapes allegedly connecting Singh to the ethnic violence further undermined his position. The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust filed a petition demanding a thorough investigation, increasing the urgency for the BJP to act.
Once a formidable figure for the BJP in Manipur, Singh had deteriorated into a liability. Public outrage over his handling of the ethnic unrest escalated in November 2024, when mobs targeted the homes of MLAs and ministers—including Singh’s—after the tragic abduction and murder of six Meitei women and children.
With Singh’s resignation, the BJP now faces the pressing task of selecting a new leader capable of bridging the significant ethnic and political divides while restoring stability in Manipur.