Announcing the central rule, a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said President Droupadi Murmu is of the opinion that "a situation has arisen in which the government of that state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution".
New Delhi:President’s Rule was imposed in strife-torn Manipur on Thursday and the state Assembly put under suspended animation, after the BJP-led Central government failed to conjure a consensus on a successor to N. Biren Singh even after four days of his resignation as chief minister.
Announcing the proclamation of the central rule, a notification issued by the Union home ministry said that President Droupadi Murmu is of the opinion that “a situation has arisen in which the government of that state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.”
“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 on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India,” the notification said.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by article 356 of the Constitution, and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I hereby proclaim that I - assume to myself as President of India all functions of the government of the state of Manipur and all powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor of the that state,” the notification further said, adding that the powers of the legislature of the state shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament.
With this notification, the Central government will take over all functioning of the state government except the legislature. However, the President’s Rule has to be approved by the Parliament within the two months of the notification.
The Centre’s decision came at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the US.
The Manipur Assembly, which has the tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation, the home ministry notification said.
N. Biren Singh, who was heading the BJP government in Manipur, resigned as chief minister on February 9 after nearly 21 months of ethnic violence that claimed over 250 lives so far. Singh submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in Imphal, hours after his meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda in the national capital last Sunday.
The Central government decision to impose the President’s Rule came after the saffron party in the state failed to pick up a consensus CM candidate despite having several rounds of meetings between party’s northeast in-charge Sambit Patra and BJP’s legislators to select a consensus name for the next CM.
In the last couple of days, Patra had held a series of meetings with the ministers, MLAs and leaders of BJP and other party allies to take their views for the selection of the new legislature party leader. He also met the Governor a few times in the last two days.
Responding to the Centre’s decision, the Congress said it had been demanding imposition of President’s Rule in strife-torn Manipur for the past 20 months and the Central government did so only after the fabric of state’s society was allowed to be “severely damaged”.
“Finally what the Indian National Congress has been demanding for almost 20 months has happened. President’s Rule has been imposed in Manipur. This has come after what the Supreme Court called ‘the absolute breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state’ that saw the killing of over 300 people and displacement of over 60,000 men, women, and children since May 3, 2023,” Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) leader Ginza Vualzong said President’s Rule will give a ray of hope to the Kuki-Zo community. “The Kuki-Zo do not trust Meiteis anymore, so a new Meitei chief minister is still far from comforting. President’s Rule will give a ray of hope to the Kuki-Zo, and we believe that it will be one step closer to our political solution,” he added.
