February 10, 2025: Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Monday alleged that the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was a move to protect the BJP rather than address the ongoing ethnic violence in the state. Singh stepped down ahead of the Congress’s planned no-confidence motion, which the opposition claims the BJP was poised to lose.

In a post on social media, Gogoi, the deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, accused the BJP of lacking a concrete plan to bring peace to Manipur. "The resignation of N Biren Singh is not aimed to save the people of Manipur, but the BJP government in the state. Home Minister Amit Shah stepped in after knowing that BJP will lose the no-confidence motion," he stated.

Singh’s resignation came shortly after his return from New Delhi, where he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. His departure also followed growing dissatisfaction within the Manipur BJP, with party leaders reportedly pushing for a leadership change amid the ongoing ethnic clashes that have claimed over 250 lives.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the BJP, stating that the party had "ignited a fire in Manipur" and left communities to fend for themselves. He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state and disclose his plans for restoring normalcy.

The resignation follows recent Supreme Court proceedings on leaked audio tapes that allegedly implicate Singh in the violence. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi suggested that mounting public pressure, the Supreme Court probe, and the no-confidence motion played a role in Singh’s decision to step down.

Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over the future leadership in Manipur, as the BJP has yet to announce a replacement for Singh. Sources indicate that the recent appointment of former home secretary Ajay Bhalla as the state's governor was intended to accelerate peace efforts. However, the opposition remains skeptical about the BJP’s commitment to restoring stability in the region.