Chief of violence-hit Indian state of Manipur resigns

By Tora Agarwala

GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - The chief minister of India's northeastern state of Manipur resigned on Sunday, bowing to pressure to quit amid ongoing ethnic clashes that have cost at least 250 lives since they broke out nearly two years ago.

N Biren Singh, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), submitted his resignation to the state's governor in the capital city of Imphal, a day ahead of a scheduled legislative assembly session.

Local reports said the opposition Congress party was expected to move a no-confidence motion against Singh.

The governor accepted Singh's resignation and asked him to continue until alternate arrangements are made, according to a statement.

Singh’s resignation follows intense sectarian clashes between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities over economic benefits and job quotas. The conflict has killed at least 250 people and displaced 60,000, with sporadic violence continuing.

Kuki groups have long accused Singh of his bias towards the Meitei community, and have demanded his removal since the conflict began.

Singh, a Meitei leader, has also been under increasing pressure from his own allies to step down. BJP lawmakers have periodically sought his resignation over his handling of the crisis.

In November, the regional National People's Party, a key BJP ally in the state, withdrew from the ruling coalition, citing Singh’s failure to resolve the crisis.

In his resignation letter, Singh thanked the federal government in Delhi for its efforts to protect Manipur’s interests and urged continued action to curb border infiltration and deport “illegal immigrants”.

Singh and the federal government have blamed the violence partly on an influx of refugees from Myanmar following the 2021 military coup there.

Soon after Singh resigned, Manipur BJP president Sharda Devi told reporters that the chief minister took the decision "in the interest of the people of Manipur".

(Reporting by Tora Agarwala; Editing by Giles Elgood)