Mugdha Das

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigns

Digital desk: The chief minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, resigned on Sunday amid turmoil in the northeastern state. He was accompanied by the state BJP president, A Sharda, the BJP's North East Manipur in-charge, Sambit Patra, and at least 19 MLAs.

Manipur BJP chief A Sharda Devi told reporters that the chief minister's decision was made to maintain the state's identity while also considering public welfare.
The resignation comes a day after Singh claimed that his government was making every effort to restore calm in the conflict-torn state.

Since May 2023, ethnic violence in Manipur has killed over 250 individuals and left others homeless.

On the day Singh resigned, unidentified gunmen took weapons from the India Reserve Battalion outpost in Manipur's Thoubal district.

On Saturday night, gunmen arrived in cars and looted weaponry from the IRB station in the district's Kakmayai region, according to reports.

The uproar against Biren Singh rose after a member of the Kuki community filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court, saying that the Chief Minister was responsible for the violence in the state. His case was based on leaked audio records apparently belonging to the Chief Minister.

Truth Labs, a non-profit private forensic laboratory, found that 93% of the audiotapes matched Mr Singh's voice.

The Supreme Court has requested a report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory regarding the leaked audiotapes.

Manipur's political situation is now in turmoil, with uncertainty over future leadership. However, the BJP's response demonstrates the party's commitment to the state's growth and unity, even as it navigates these challenging times.