Manipur's Political Cauldron: Ex-CM Biren Singh Alleges Ouster Plot Amid Escalating Violence

Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has publicly accused his own Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) colleagues of conspiring with the Indian National Congress to orchestrate his removal in February 2025, a dramatic revelation that lays bare the deep rifts within the state's ruling party. Singh, who led the state for two terms, is now questioning why the brutal ethnic violence, which began in May 2023 and has tragically claimed over 300 lives and displaced 60,000 people, continues unabated despite his ouster, which was reportedly aimed at restoring peace. This explosive accusation comes as Manipur remains a hotbed of unrest, with recent weeks in October 2026 seeing renewed clashes, civilian killings, and protests involving the Meitei, Kuki-Zo, and Naga communities, even prompting a 'National Black Day' shutdown. Current Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who took office in February 2026 after a year of President's Rule, now faces intense pressure, with the Congress demanding his resignation and the BJP battling internal dissent ahead of crucial assembly elections due early next year. As Manipur gears up for early 2027 assembly elections, Singh's outspoken criticism also targets the current government's perceived inaction on key initiatives he spearheaded, such as anti-drug campaign, poppy cultivation eradication, and biometric identification of suspected illegal immigrants. His defiant stance, despite backing the BJP return to power, signals a volatile political landscape, forcing both state and central leadership to urgently address the persistent violence and internal party fractures if they hope to regain public trust before voters head to the polls.