How growing discontent shaped move

STATE BJP LEADERS SUGGESTED THAT SINGH CONTINUING IN THE POST COULD HAVE BEEN EMBARRASSING FOR THE PARTY DURING THE ASSEMBLY SESSION.

- Prawesh Lama and Smriti Kak Ramachandran

NEW DELHI: N Biren Singh stepped down as the chief minister of Manipur on Sunday, nearly two years after ethnic violence broke out in the state that has since claimed more than 250 lives, setting the stage for a change of guard in the northeastern state amid rumblings within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and threats of a no-confidence motion by the opposition Congress.

Governor Ajay Bhalla accepted Singh's resignation, but urged him to continue in the post until alternative arrangements are made, a statement said. Late in the evening, Bhalla declared the 7th session of Legislative Assembly, which was to commence from Monday, "null and void".

Speculation over what prompted Singh's decision, however, continued to run rife, even as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described the resignation as "shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted".

State BJP leaders suggested that Singh continuing in the post could have been embarrassing for the party during the assembly session.