President's rule has been imposed in Manipur beginning today, PTI confirmed citing Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification.
This comes three days after the Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, resigned from his post on February 9 amid ongoing violence in the state.
The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has also been put under suspended animation.
Security agencies have been put on high alert following the President's proclaimation. There is a heavy deployment of forces within the Imphal valley areas which have seen attacks on police by cadres of Arambai Tenggol group. As per PTI, Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces will be conducting flag march in Imphal city to ward off any untoward breakdown of law and order, they said.
Announcing the proclamation of the central rule, a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said President Droupadi Murmu is of the opinion that "a situation has arisen in which the government of that state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution," PTI reported.
"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 356 of the Constitution, and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I hereby proclaim that I – assume to myself as President of India all functions of the Government of the State of Manipur and all powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor of that State," the notification said.
News agency ANI shared the MHA notification of the proclamation.
After Biren Singh's resignation, several media reports suggested that discussions are being held on selecting the candidate for the next chief ministerial post of Manipur, who could be either Manipur Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh or Urban Development Minister Yumnam Khemchand.
However, there were also speculations that the President's rule may be enforced for an initial period of four to five months, with the possibility of extension until a consensus candidate for Chief Minister is selected.
President라이브 바카라 Rule can be renewed for up to six months at a time.
Jairam Ramesh slams delay in imposition of President's rule
The Congress slammed the government's delayed action and said that it has been demanding imposition of President's rule in strife-torn Manipur for the past 20 months and the Central government did so only after the fabric of state's society was allowed to be "severely damaged".
"Finally what the Indian National Congress has been demanding for almost 20 months has happened. President's rule has been imposed in Manipur. This has come after what the Supreme Court called 'the absolute breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state' that saw the killing of over 300 people and displacement of over 60,000 men, women, and children since May 3, 2023," Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
The ethnic violence that has plagued the state since May 2023 has claimed over 250 lives and left thousands homeless. The violence has largely been fueled by tensions between the Meitei community, based in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo tribes in the surrounding hilly regions. What began as localised clashes in May 2023 escalated in 2024, spreading to previously peaceful areas like Jiribam district, near Assam.
The situation has also disrupted the functioning of the state legislature. Governor Bhalla has already declared the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, which was supposed to begin on February 10, as null and void. The last session of the Assembly concluded in August 2024, and with the leadership vacuum in the state, there is uncertainty about when, or even if, the legislature will reconvene.
The resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, accepted by Governor Bhalla on Sunday, has only added to the uncertainty. Despite his resignation, Singh was requested to remain in office temporarily until alternative arrangements are made.
