President's Rule likely as no consensus in Manipur

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers in Manipur on Tuesday scrambled to find a successor to caretaker chief minister N Biren Singh as the spectre of President's Rule loomed large over the embattled state and a deadline for convening the assembly session neared.

- Thomas Ngangom

Groups of BJP lawmakers held a string of meetings with the party's north-east coordinator, Sambit Patra, as consensus eluded the legislators on choosing a successor to Biren Singh, who resigned on Sunday.

Around 4.45pm, Patra along with BJP Manipur chief, Sharda Devi, and at least three lawmakers, reached the Raj Bhavan in Imphal and met governor Ajay Bhalla for about half an hour, said people aware of the matter.

The party or Raj Bhavan did not issue any statement, but people aware of the matter said the leaders may have informed Bhalla that they were yet to decide on Singh's replacement.

Complicating matters was the looming deadline dictated by Article 174 (1) of the Constitution that says that the assembly, which was last adjourned on August 12, 2024, must be convened again within six months - February 12, 2025. As the deadline crept up, the possibility of President's Rule increased in a state that has battled brutal violence for close to two years now.

BJP leaders said that the frontrunners to replace Biren Singh were finding it tough to get the support of lawmakers close to the caretaker CM, who was a polarising figure but one who was popular with his base. "We heard that most likely the assembly will be put under President's Rule with the assembly in suspended animation," said a BJP leader aware of the details.

If this is done, then the assembly will be placed in suspended animation and not dissolved, and can be revived at any time, thereby allowing legislators to try and form a majority government even as President's Rule remains imposed on a state.

"It looks like the front runners were unable to get the support of all MLAs," said the BJP leader quoted above.