Manipur, a state that has been engulfed in ethnic strife since May of last year, is now facing a political leadership crisis, as around 19 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have approached the central leadership seeking the replacement of the state’s Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh. This comes amid growing unrest in the region, with the government struggling to restore peace and normalcy between the warring communities. The ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribes has claimed over 230 lives and displaced tens of thousands of people, escalating the political tensions within the state’s ruling party.
Speculation has emerged regarding a letter that was recently submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office by a group of disgruntled BJP MLAs. Portions of the letter, which were leaked to the public, revealed the first signatures to be those of Speaker Th Satyabrata, Ministers Th Bishwajit, and Y Khemchand. While Bishwajit and Khemchand are known dissenters against the current administration, Speaker Satyabrata is considered a loyalist to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, creating a complex political dynamic within the party. The letter, signed by 19 MLAs of the ruling party, was reportedly submitted on a Wednesday, following a meeting between Meitei, Kuki, and Naga MLAs in Delhi the previous day.
In the letter, the MLAs expressed deep concern about the ongoing ethnic conflict and the failure of the BJP-led government to restore peace in Manipur. They stated, “At this juncture, the people of Manipur are raising questions to us, in particular the BJP-led government, as to why peace and normalcy cannot be restored, and the plight of the people could not be alleviated yet.” The MLAs emphasized that they, as representatives of the people and fervent supporters of the BJP, feel a responsibility to save Manipur from further turmoil, as well as protect the BJP’s reputation and electoral prospects in the state.
The letter went on to argue that the removal of the current Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, is the only viable solution to resolving the conflict. They asserted that the ongoing strife between the two major ethnic communities could not be resolved through security force deployments alone. “The longer the conflict continues, the more irreparable will be the damage and blot on India as a nation. Only dialogue and meaningful engagement in a multi-pronged manner can show the seed for reconciliation and peace.” the letter warned. The MLAs called for dialogue and meaningful engagement with all stakeholders as the only way to sow the seeds of reconciliation and peace.
The letter also touched upon the severe economic consequences of the prolonged unrest. It highlighted how commercial establishments have either closed down or relocated due to the activities of miscreants and anti-national elements. Essential commodities have become scarce, and prices have skyrocketed, leading to an all-time high inflation rate. The state’s revenue and tax collections have also been severely hampered, worsening the economic situation. In light of these dire circumstances, the MLAs urged the central leadership to take immediate action to initiate peace talks and bring all parties to the table before it is too late.
This is not the first time a section of Manipur’s political leaders has pushed for a change in leadership. In June of this year, a group of MLAs traveled to New Delhi to press for a leadership change in the state. However, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh dismissed the rumors, stating that the MLAs had gone to meet with central leaders to discuss solutions for Manipur’s ongoing issues, not to demand his resignation. In an interview with a media organisation, N. Biren Singh had mentioned that a memorandum was being prepared by the MLAs for submission to central leaders, aimed at finding a lasting solution for peace in the state. According to him, the memorandum had been signed by around 34-35 MLAs from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including members of BJP and its allies, such as the Naga People’s Front (NPF), Janata Dal (United), and National People’s Party (NPP).
The current crisis in Manipur is rooted in the ethnic violence that broke out on May 3 of last year. The violence was triggered after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts by tribal groups protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The conflict has since spiraled out of control, leading to widespread violence, destruction of property, and displacement of communities. According to official reports, over 230 people have lost their lives, and as many as 11,133 houses have been set on fire, with 4,569 homes completely destroyed. The state government has registered nearly 12,000 cases related to the ethnic violence and established 302 relief camps, providing shelter to approximately 59,414 internally displaced persons.
Despite efforts to restore peace, the ethnic conflict shows no signs of abating, and the call for leadership change within the BJP has only added to the uncertainty in Manipur. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh briefly resigned in July last year in response to the growing pressure from within the party and the public, but angry citizens tore up his resignation letter, forcing him to stay in office. With the state teetering on the brink of further chaos, the demand for his removal has resurfaced, bringing the leadership crisis to the forefront once again.
As Manipur continues to grapple with both political instability and ethnic violence, the central government will be under increasing pressure to intervene and find a solution that not only restores peace but also stabilizes the state’s political leadership. Whether or not the BJP leadership in Delhi will heed the calls of the dissenting MLAs remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the people of Manipur cannot afford further delays in addressing the escalating crisis that has gripped their state for over a year.