N Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, resigned on Sunday, February 9, after two years of ethnic violence in the state, which has claimed hundreds of lives.

Pressure from All Sides

Singh faced mounting pressure from both his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition. He met with the Manipur governor in Imphal and stated, "It has been an honor to serve the people of Manipur so far."

No-Confidence Motion Threat

According to sources, the opposition Congress party's threat of a no-confidence vote likely pushed Singh to resign. Congress believed it could gain support from BJP lawmakers who were dissatisfied with the leadership.

BJP’s Weakened Position

The BJP’s position weakened further after the National Peoples' Party (NPP) exited last year, citing the failure to address the state’s ethnic violence. However, despite this, the BJP maintained a majority. Still, the party feared that some lawmakers might withdraw support if a no-confidence vote occurred.

The Numbers Game

The 60-seat Manipur assembly consists of 32 BJP seats, five from the Naga People’s Front, and six from JD(U). Congress holds five seats, while the NPP has seven.

Ongoing Ethnic Violence

The ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi-Hmar communities has continued for two years, resulting in 258 deaths and over 59,000 people displaced. Kuki-Zomi-Hmar groups have called for Singh’s removal, accusing him of biased and majoritarian policies.