Manipur has been placed under President’s Rule for the eleventh time since 1951. Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned after a Congress-led no-confidence threat. The constitutional deadline under Article 174(1) required the state assembly to reconvene by February 12, 2025. Governor Ajay Bhalla reported to President Droupadi Murmu, prompting the declaration of President’s Rule. The BJP’s inability to agree on a new leader led to the suspension of the scheduled budget session.
Key Highlights:
Manipur’s Political Crisis: How It Unfolded
The northeastern state of Manipur has been placed under President’s Rule following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the BJP’s failure to decide on a new leader. This crisis began with a no-confidence motion from Congress, pushing the BJP into a leadership struggle.
On Sunday, February 9, 2025, N Biren Singh submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Bhalla after returning from a meeting with the BJP’s central leadership in New Delhi. Despite efforts from BJP’s northeast in-charge, Sambit Patra, to mediate discussions with party MLAs in Imphal, no consensus was reached on a successor.
The BJP was initially hopeful of resolving the crisis following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return from his U.S. visit. However, the situation worsened due to constitutional constraints.
Constitutional Deadline Under Article 174(1):
According to Article 174(1) of the Constitution, a state assembly must convene within six months of its last sitting. For Manipur, the last assembly session took place on August 12, 2024. This made February 12, 2025, the deadline for the next session to be called.
Due to the absence of a functioning government and the resignation of the Chief Minister, the budget session scheduled to begin on Monday had to be postponed indefinitely, leaving the state in a constitutional dilemma. The delay in forming a government forced the imposition of President’s Rule on the evening of February 12.
President’s Rule Declared:
In a statement, President Droupadi Murmu justified the imposition of President’s Rule, stating:
“After considering the report and other information received by me, I am satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of that State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India.”
Manipur has now witnessed President’s Rule for the eleventh time since 1951. The Centre’s decision reflects the urgent need to restore stability and governance in the state.
What’s Next for Manipur?
With President’s Rule in place, the Centre will directly oversee the state’s administration until a new government is formed. The BJP leadership must now expedite its decision-making process to avoid further political uncertainty. Manipur’s future political direction depends on the party’s ability to resolve internal disputes and select a new Chief Minister.
The imposition of Manipur President’s Rule 2025 highlights the importance of timely political resolution in avoiding constitutional crises. As the state navigates this period of uncertainty, the focus will remain on the BJP’s ability to restore normalcy and governance in the state. Stay tuned for further developments.
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