‘Protests, torn letter’: What happened when Biren Singh tried to resign as Manipur CM in 2023 | India News

NEW DELHI: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday. Singh, who was accompanied by 14 BJP and NPF MLAs, had just returned from Delhi before making the move. State BJP president A Sharda and senior BJP leader Sambit Patra were also part of the delegation.
Singh’s resignation comes amid growing political tension, with the opposition Congress pushing for a no-confidence motion against his government. Just a day earlier, he had convened a meeting with BJP-led alliance MLAs to discuss the upcoming assembly session, set to begin on February 10. In his letter to the governor, Singh expressed gratitude for the central government’s interventions and developmental initiatives, stating that it had been an honour to serve Manipur.

What happened in 2023 when Biren Singh resigned?

In 2023, Singh found himself at the centre of a political storm when he attempted to resign following intense pressure over the state’s ongoing ethnic violence. The resignation drama, was marked by protests and a torn letter.
Thousands of supporters, mostly elderly women, blocked his convoy as he attempted to reach Raj Bhavan. Singh got down from his vehicle and tried to convince them, but they refused to budge, forcing him to return home. The six-hour-long demonstration outside his residence culminated dramatically when cabinet minister L Susindro Meitei read out Singh’s resignation letter in front of the crowd, only for the women to snatch it from his hands and tear it apart.

The build-up to this political drama began when women protesters at Ema Market issued an ultimatum to the government to end the unrest following a deadly gunfight between security forces and rioters. Hours later, tensions escalated as mobs vandalized BJP offices in Thoubal and Imphal West. Early the next morning, Singh held a meeting with his ministers, where the decision to resign was taken
Eventually, he was forced to clarify on social media that he would not be resigning. “At this crucial juncture, I wish to clarify that I will not be resigning from the post of Chief Minister,” he posted on Twitter.
At the time, security forces had been stretched thin, dealing with both the protests and violent clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities. The state had been placed under strict restrictions, including internet shutdowns, to prevent the spread of inflammatory content. As the situation escalated, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Manipur and met with Governor Anusuiya Uikey, appealing for peace, stating that violence was not the solution.