It is wrong to blame the BJP MLAs for President’s Rule in Manipur

It is unfair to blame the BJP MLAs and their supporter allies for bringing President’s Rule to Manipur. The past 21 months have demonstrated that the political maneuvering by MLAs, Ministers, and political parties has only deepened the crisis, leading to chaos and uncertainty. When people are divided, it is imperative to seek solutions rather than engage in endless finger-pointing. The elected MLAs, like the public, are exhausted and disillusioned, as they too bear the burden of representing their constituencies during this crisis.
The resignation of N. Biren Singh as the Chief Minister of Manipur has once again laid bare the deep-seated turmoil that has gripped the state for the past 21 months. Since the outbreak of the crisis on May 3, 2023, constitutional mechanisms have crumbled, and Manipur has been thrown into an abyss of chaos, violence, and societal division. The political blame game that has ensued following Biren Singh’s resignation is only a manifestation of the deeper malaise that plagues the state’s governance.
One of the stark realities of this crisis is that nothing substantial has been done to address the root causes of the conflict. The state remains fractured along ethnic lines, with communities pitted against each other through incendiary rhetoric and violent clashes. The ten MLAs from the Kuki-Zo community have not shied away from making provocative statements, further fueling animosity between the Meitei and Kuki communities. In the meantime, over 60,000 people remain displaced, living as refugees in their own homeland, their homes razed, their livelihoods shattered. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that juveniles and ordinary citizens are seen wielding weapons, forced into a makeshift defense of their villages.
The question that looms large now is whether the appointment of a new Chief Minister will be a panacea for Manipur’s ills. The ruling party’s legislators, disillusioned with the outgoing leadership, are in disarray, unable to arrive at a consensus on the way forward. The failure to coordinate efforts to curb the crisis is evident, and the lack of strategic vision has only exacerbated the situation. The central government, meanwhile, appears to be running the show, further alienating the state’s political class. With this backdrop, the possibility of President’s Rule looms large, sending shivers down the spines of those who fear the erosion of democratic governance in the state.
However, the imposition of President’s Rule, if executed effectively, could provide a temporary reprieve from the political infighting and enable a neutral administration to address the humanitarian crisis. The need of the hour is not a mere change in leadership but a fundamental realignment of governance. A politically independent authority, free from the machinations of MLAs and party politics, must take charge to restore law and order. The immediate priority should be the resettlement of displaced persons in their original homes and the rehabilitation of communities torn apart by violence. This can only be achieved through decisive action, including the deployment of adequate force to quell lawlessness and the reconstruction of destroyed settlements.
Manipur is at a crossroads, and its future hangs in the balance. The question is not about who will be the next Chief Minister but whether there exists the political will and administrative acumen to salvage the state from its current predicament. Without a concerted effort to rebuild trust, ensure security, and reinstate governance, any new leadership will merely be a placeholder in an already crumbling system. Manipur needs solutions, not more political theatrics. The time for action is now.