AMIDST rumblings within the State BJP seeking a change of leadership, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhawan in Imphal, officials said. The Governor accepted Singh’s resignation, along with that of his council of Ministers, and requested that he continue in office until alternative arrangements are made. The development comes hours after he returned from Delhi. Earlier this week, a new controversy erupted after the Supreme Court sought a sealed-cover forensic report on the authenticity of leaked audio clips alleging the role of Singh in the ethnic violence.

 

The tapes reportedly included conversations where Singh allegedly suggested that Meitei groups were allowed to loot arms and ammunition from the State Government during the unrest, which has so far claimed 250 lives. In his resignation letter, Singh said, “It has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur thus far. I am extremely grateful to the Central Government for time actions, interventions, developmental work and implementation of various projects for safeguarding the interests of every single Manipuri.” “My sincere request to the Central Government through your good office is to continue with the same. I take the opportunity to enumerate the most important ones of them ... To maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur which has a rich and diverse civilizational history over thousands of years,” the letter added.

 

Singh in his resignation letter also requested the Centre to continue the “crackdown on border infiltration and to formulate policy for the deportation of the illegal immigrants and the fight against drugs and narco terrorism.” On Saturday, Singh convened a meeting with BJP-led ruling alliance MLAs at the CM Secretariat. The meeting was held in the wake of the Opposition Congress seeking to move a no-confidence motion against the Government led by Singh during the Assembly. It was not immediately clear whether the BJP will appoint a new CM. Top BJP leader Sambit Patra is camping in Manipur. The Congress was prompt to react that the resignation was “belated” and said people of the State were now awaiting a visit by “our frequent-flier PM” Modi. BJP sources on the other side expressed hope that his resignation will help boost the efforts being helmed by the Centre to broker peace between the two main ethnic communities in the State.