Former Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh has questioned why violence continues in the state after his resignation, while alleging that some BJP colleagues worked with the Congress to force him out. He made the remarks in a PTI interview on October 30.
Biren Singh said the state government must rebuild public confidence and show visible action on issues that featured prominently during his tenure. He also challenged the argument that replacing him would restore peace.
Biren Singh Questions the Reason for His Exit
Singh accused sections of the BJP’s state leadership of conspiring against him. He said he was not blaming the party’s central leadership, but alleged that some state leaders joined hands with the Congress to secure his resignation.
“I had not been treated well since 2017,” he told PTI. Singh claimed some legislators resented his rise to the chief minister’s post after he moved from the Congress to the BJP. He alleged they viewed the party as their own property and could not accept that he had become chief minister twice.
These are Singh’s allegations. He did not identify the colleagues he accused in the interview.
Singh resigned on February 9, 2025, amid growing dissent within the ruling party and the possibility of a Congress-backed no-confidence motion. Y. Khemchand Singh, then a minister in his cabinet, later became chief minister. The current government took office in February 2026.
Biren Singh Challenges the Peace Argument
Singh questioned claims that his departure would help end the prolonged violence in Manipur. The ethnic conflict began in May 2023 and has repeatedly disrupted daily life across the state.
He pointed to continued clashes and killings involving different communities, including Naga and Kuki groups.
“Now Biren is out. So, what happened now?” he asked, arguing that violence had continued despite the change in leadership. He referred to deaths among Naga people.
Singh also invoked the European Parliament’s July 2023 resolution. It expressed concern over the violence and called for protection of religious minorities.
However, Singh’s comments reflect his own assessment. They do not establish who is responsible for individual attacks.
Biren Singh Warns BJP Over Public Confidence
The former chief minister also voiced concern that the BJP government was losing public trust. He said the administration needed to communicate its work more clearly.
Asked whether public anxiety could hurt the BJP in the next election, Singh described that as his main worry. He urged the government to show what it was doing.
He specifically called for the continuation of the anti-drug campaign and efforts to stop poppy cultivation. He also urged the government to continue biometric identification of suspected illegal immigrants.
Singh claimed that public updates on the identification exercise had become scarce. He said his government had regularly informed the media about the number of people identified, but added that the public had heard little about the process for around one-and-a-half years.
BJP Return Remains Singh’s Stated Priority
Despite criticising state party leaders and the current administration, Singh backed the BJP’s return to power. He said the party needed to rebuild confidence before voters return to the polls.
Asked whether he expected to become chief minister again if the BJP won, Singh said that decision would depend on the party securing a majority.
Singh expressed regret that he could not complete the work he had planned. He blamed disunity and internal political conflict, saying the situation had been moving towards normalcy near the end of his tenure.
Manipur Faces a Test Before the Next Election
The interview highlights divisions within the BJP as Manipur approaches another election cycle. Singh’s allegations have revived questions about the internal struggle before his resignation.
The present government faces pressure to restore confidence through effective administration, transparent communication and sustained efforts to prevent further violence.
Moreover, the BJP must address public concerns and demonstrate its commitment to stability. The coming Assembly elections will test the party’s ability to maintain unity and regain voter confidence.
Singh has said he wants the party to retain power, even as he questions the actions of colleagues who helped bring about his exit. His remarks add to Manipur’s political debate as residents continue to seek lasting stability.
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