Manipur under official PR, Governor issues ultimatum for arms surrender

Nudged by the resignation of N Biren Singh as the Chief Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah finally made up his mind on the 13th of February and declared the imposition of President's Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution.

- YAMBEM LABA

Two days earlier Governor Ajay Bhalla had sent his Secretary to Delhi to deliver his letter recommending President's Rule in the State.

A communique from President Droupadi Murmu read: "After receiving a report from Governor Ajay Bhalla and after considering the report and other information received by me, I am satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of that State cannot be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India".

The move by the Centre came as the state BJP failed to come to a consensus on who to take over as Chief Minister and the Legislative Assembly could not be convened.

Biren Singh had stepped down amidst massive dissent and a looming no-confidence motion threat from the Congress, which many from his own BJP legislators were believed to have been ready to support.

He had earlier gone to Delhi to seek an audience with HM Amit Shah, failing which he and his other supporters returned to Imphal via a 'holy dip' at the Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh Mela.

But the dip did not save him for he was soon summoned to Delhi along with the Governor and upon his return to Imphal drove to the Raj Bhawan accompanied by Sambit Patra, the BJP's point man for the North-east and Manipur, and tendered his resignation.

Unlike the resignation drama staged earlier where he allowed himself to be waylaid by a thousand-strong group of women who tore up his resignation letter in public, this was a solemn affair.

He must have been told in Delhi that the odds were stacked high against him this time.

The revolting BJP MLAs on one side and the impending case in the Supreme Court of India over an alleged recorded audio tape in which he is purportedly heard stating as to how he had ordered the use of mortar bombs against the Kukis and how he had facilitated the looting arms from police armories by the Meiteis.