'State Party President Will Decide Next CM': Manipur Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh

Imphal (Manipur): Amid discussions on the next Chief Minister of Manipur, BJP MLAs met state party President A. Sharda Devi on Thursday.

State Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, speaking on the development, said, "Since the resignation of the former CM, we have come together to meet our party President with all the MLAs of our party... The President will decide as soon as possible (the next CM)..."

N Biren Singh's resignation from the office of Chief Minister of Manipur came on February 9 amid violence and political instability that had plagued the state for nearly two years.

President's rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13 after receiving a state governor's report.

The decision, exercised under Article 356 of the Constitution, means that the President will now directly control the state's administrative functions through the Governor.

The proclamation, published in the Gazette of India issued by the Union Home Ministry, states that the powers of the Manipur Legislative Assembly will be transferred to Parliament, effectively suspending the state government's authority.

Meanwhile on Thursday, to curb the violence in the state, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla urged the people of the state to "voluntarily" come forward to surrender the illegally held weapons to the nearest police stations within seven days.

"I sincerely request the people of all communities, particularly the youths in the Valley and Hills, to voluntarily come forward and surrender looted and illegally held weapons & ammunition to the nearest Police Station/Outpost/Security Forces Camp within the next seven days, with effect from today," the letter signed by Bhalla read.

The Governor has given a seven-day ultimatum to people of all communities in the hills and valleys of Manipur to surrender the looted weapons. Bhalla said that returning these weapons can be a gesture towards ensuring peace in the northeastern state.

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