New Delhi/Imphal – In a significant political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated the process to elect a new Chief Minister for Manipur on Monday. This move comes nearly a year after the imposition of President’s Rule in the state on February 13, following the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amid prolonged ethnic violence.
The BJP’s Parliamentary Board has appointed party National General Secretary Tarun Chugh as the central observer for the election of the leader of the legislative party in Manipur. This step signals the party’s intent to restore elected governance in the troubled northeastern state.
A press release from the BJP headquarters confirmed Chugh’s appointment, though the party has not yet disclosed the date for the crucial legislators’ meeting. Sources indicate that senior central leaders may convene a key meeting in New Delhi either today or tomorrow with Manipur’s BJP and NDA ally MLAs to deliberate on pressing state issues.
A large contingent of BJP and allied NDA legislators has already arrived in the national capital. Among them are former Chief Minister Biren Singh and Manipur BJP president Adhkari Mayum Sharda Devi. Before departing Imphal for Delhi, Sharda Devi told reporters that all NDA MLAs have been summoned by the central BJP leadership to discuss various state-related matters, expressing hope that government formation would be on the agenda.
Biren Singh echoed optimism, stating that all NDA ally legislators have been invited to the meeting, and he anticipates positive outcomes. He clarified that they were only instructed to come to Delhi for the meeting without a specific agenda being shared.
The backdrop to these developments is the resignation of Biren Singh, after which President’s Rule was imposed just four days later on February 13. This emergency measure is set to expire on February 12 this year. The 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, with its term extending until 2027, remains suspended during this period.
As ethnic tensions continue to simmer in Manipur, the swift election of a new leadership could pave the way for stability and address longstanding grievances. Political observers are closely watching how the BJP navigates this complex scenario to form a stable government.