The resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and the subsequent imposition of President’s rule mark a critical juncture in the state’s troubled political landscape. The move comes against the backdrop of prolonged ethnic violence between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities, a conflict that has exposed deep fissures in governance and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ability to manage the crisis. While Singh’s resignation was inevitable given his administration’s failure to restore order, the imposition of President’s rule raises serious questions about the BJP’s political strategy, the role of the central government, and the long-term implications for Manipur’s stability. Is this a step toward restoring peace, or merely a calculated manoeuvre by the BJP to reset its political strategy in the northeast?

Manipur has been in turmoil since May 2023, when violence erupted between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities over demands for the Scheduled Tribe status and land rights. What began as a legal dispute quickly escalated into full-blown ethnic strife, leaving more than 250 people dead and displacing over 60,000. The state government, led by Singh, failed to contain the violence, with accusations that his administration was complicit in worsening the divide. Instead of acting as a mediator, the government appeared to align with the Meitei........

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