President's Rule Imposed in Manipur

After BJP MLAs in state failed to reach consensus on Biren successor

- ABHIJIT DEB

Manipur was brought under President's Rule on Thursday, five days after the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who stepped down amid internal dissent within the state BJP unit and mounting pressure from the Opposition Congress. The state Legislative Assembly has been placed in suspended animation.

The Centre's decision came after the ruling BJP party failed to reach a consensus on a new leader, plunging the violence-hit state into political uncertainty. A communiqué from the Rashtrapati Bhavan stated that President Droupadi Murmu, after reviewing the Governor's report and other inputs, was convinced that "a situation has arisen in which the Government of that State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India."