The Hollow Promise of Resignation: Manipuri MLAs Fail the People

The ongoing turmoil in Manipur has laid bare the incompetence and lack of accountability among the state’s political leadership. Over the past months, multiple MLAs have publicly vowed to resign in protest against the central government’s inaction and the unabated violence plaguing the state. However, these promises have proven to be hollow, revealing a disheartening pattern of political expediency over genuine commitment to the people.
If these legislators were serious about their purported resignation, they would have acted much earlier—when the state’s law and order collapsed, and the central government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), failed to take decisive measures to restore peace. The imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in peripheral areas has only exacerbated tensions, especially in districts like Jiribam, which witnessed large-scale violence.
Instead of taking decisive action, the MLAs have chosen to beg for more time from their constituents. This hesitation demonstrates that their promises are merely a strategy to buy time while maintaining their grip on power.
The reluctance to resign is rooted in the privileges that come with holding office. MLAs in Manipur enjoy access to security, local area development funds, lucrative contracts for developmental projects, and the prestige of traveling in tinted-glass cars. These benefits create a powerful incentive to cling to power, even as the state plunges deeper into chaos. For many of these legislators, politics is less about public service and more about personal gain. Most come from backgrounds as contractors and businesspersons, with little or no experience in managing political crises.
The MLAs have displayed no clear understanding of the root causes of the crisis, let alone formulated a coherent plan to address it. Instead, they continue to make symbolic gestures, such as promising to resign, while doing little to alleviate the suffering of the people they represent. Their failure to secure a meeting with the Prime Minister over the last two years shows their political impotence and inability to prioritize the state’s pressing needs.
Manipur’s MLAs have also failed to grasp the larger implications of their inaction. By refusing to take a stand against the central government’s policies, they tacitly endorse an agenda that threatens to divide the state. The BJP-led government’s handling of the crisis has raised concerns about its intentions, with many fearing that the violence and unrest are being used to further political goals at the cost of Manipur’s unity. The MLAs’ silence and inaction suggest that they either lack the competence to counter this agenda or are complicit in it because their personal coffers remain unaffected.
The reluctance to resign also stems from a “profit-loss” mentality that pervades Manipur’s political class. Many MLAs have invested significant resources—both financial and otherwise—in securing their positions. Resigning would mean relinquishing these investments and the privileges that come with them. This transactional approach to politics has eroded public trust and reinforced the perception that the state’s leadership is incapable of rising above personal interests.
The hollow promises of resignation by Manipur’s MLAs are emblematic of a larger crisis in political accountability. As the state continues to reel under the impact of violence and unrest, its elected representatives have failed to rise to the occasion. Their inaction has not only deepened public disillusionment but also allowed the central government to dictate the terms of the crisis, often to the detriment of the state’s interests.
Manipur needs leaders who are willing to prioritize the welfare of the people over personal gain. The current MLAs have had ample opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to their constituents but have repeatedly fallen short. If they are unwilling to resign, as they have promised, the least they can do is acknowledge their failure and make way for individuals who are better equipped to navigate the state through these turbulent times.
The people of Manipur deserve better than hollow promises and ineffective leadership. The time has come for the state’s political class to be held accountable for their inaction and to take responsibility for the suffering of their constituents. Until then, the promise of resignation will remain just that—a promise, devoid of substance or sincerity.