Resignation of N Biren unlikely to help restore normalcy
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 11, 2025 -

APART from the job seekers left dejected and make his political opponents upbeat, resignation of chief minister N Biren from the top post is unlikely to help bring normalcy in the state, which has been facing restive situation for over 20 months.

As Biren's resignation was overshadowed by rumours about some of his ministerial colleagues as well as opposition party leaders covertly lobbying for his removal as the chief minister, overtly holding him accountable for the on-going conflict and insisting that he must step down on moral ground for failure to insulate the masses from the impact of the conflict, it is also likely that those against continuation of Biren as the chief minister would be rolling up their sleeves to grab the top post as and when offered by the party's central leaderships.

However, the fact is despite the resignation of the chief minister, the BJP-led government still holds a majority in the 60-member Assembly. As the BJP on its own commands 32 MLAs, and has the support of five legislators from the Naga People's Front (NPF) and six from the Janata Dal (United), there is remote chance of the five-MLA opposition Congress staking claim to form the next government with the backing of some rebellious legislators from among the alliance partners of the BJP-led coalition government.

As such, if at all any move is made to topple the government then it shall be from within the BJP legislators who are averse to the idea of reinstating N Biren.

Although the National People's Party (NPP), led by Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, recently withdrew its support to the government, any plan to wrest power would entail engineering split in the BJP, which still maintains a comfortable legislative strength.

For the Congress party, it seems that other than continuing to berate at the BJP central leaders for the crisis in the state, there would be no option left but to hope that the public mandate in the next assembly elections would favour the grand old party.

That the Congress is keen to exploit the situation and widen the gap between the BJP and the electorates of Manipur could be comprehended from its president Mallikarjun Kharge launching a scathing attack on the BJP following the resignation of N Biren, describing it as a case of 'shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted', and holding the ruling party responsible for the prolonged turmoil in the state.

Nevertheless, it would be interesting to wait and watch whether the Congress party would dare to back rebellious BJP legislators in staking claim to form the next government and helping in bringing an end to the ethnic flame that has been engulfing the state.

Taking into account the assertion of Ginza Vualzong, who is spokesperson of Kuki-Zo organisation - Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum, that the demand for separate administration will remain the same whether Biren is the CM or not, it could be safely concluded that return of peace and normalcy in the state with the resignation of N Biren would be wishful thinking.