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AS CURTAINS came down on a day of drama in Imphal on Friday, which ended on the high note of a ‘resignation letter’ by Chief Minister N Biren Singh being torn, the BJP was at pains to emphasise that there was no question of the beleaguered leader stepping down.
While the Opposition parties have been long seeking Biren’s resignation over the two-month-long violence in the state – including at an all-party meeting held by the Centre in Delhi – the CM has refused to step down.
Rumours that he might finally do so started after a lull in violence ended on Thursday, with the death of two people from the Meitei community in firing in Kangpokpi district. As the body of one of them was placed in the heart of the city, hundreds, especially women, gathered to protest, chanting slogans against the CM.
As per government spokesperson and minister Sapam Ranjan Singh, Biren was saddened by the events and decided to resign then. “The Chief Minister felt very sad about what had happened. He felt he had lost the trust of the people.”
A close aide said: “He felt very emotional… especially over the calls for his resignation… He felt that if he had lost the faith of the people, then there was no point in continuing.”
The rumours gathered further pace on Friday morning due to a report in Imphal-based daily The Sangai Express, saying Biren was expected to hand over his resignation to the Governor that day. The report cited sources saying he had been asked to put in his papers by the Central government.
BJP sources said both the report and the rumours were false. “There is no such thing (as asking Biren to quit). There was some tension among MLAs and such reports and rumours were a part of it. It (the issue) is getting resolved,” said a source involved with the political process in Manipur.
A senior leader in Delhi also sought to quash rumours that the Centre might impose President’s rule in the state. Without choosing to reply whether it is an option before the ruling party and the government, the leader said “the worst is over in Manipur”. “Things are getting under control and normalcy is slowly returning to the state. No further escalation of violence is expected from either side.”
Party sources in Delhi said Singh’s resignation was not on the BJP agenda for now. “If at all it has to happen, the top leadership will take the call on whether such a step is required to bring the state back into normalcy and when it should happen. There are no such signs so far,” said a party leader involved in Manipur affairs.
There has been mounting pressure on Biren, even from party colleagues from the Meitei community. Last week, nine Meitei MLAs – eight from the BJP and an Independent supporting the Manipur government – had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office, highlighting that the “public have lost complete faith in the present state government”.
Nishikant Singh Sapam, the owner of The Sangai Express, was one of them. After submitting the memorandum, Sapam had told The Indian Express, “We all want the welfare of Manipur.”
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