Mon Feb 10 06:33:29 UTC 2025: ## Manipur Chief Minister Resigns Amidst Ethnic Conflict
**GUWAHATI, INDIA (February 10, 2025)** – Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh resigned on Sunday, February 9th, 2025, more than 21 months after ethnic violence erupted between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. While BJP state president Sharda Devi attributed the resignation to Mr. Singh prioritizing the state’s future and seeking central intervention to ensure citizen safety, observers point to the ongoing conflict and political instability as contributing factors.
The Governor has appointed Mr. Singh as caretaker Chief Minister. The resignation comes after months of violence that has claimed at least 250 lives and displaced an estimated 60,000 people. Former MP Lorho S. Pfoze attributed the political turmoil to ineffective governance, noting that while Mr. Singh was seen as an efficient leader, the Kuki-Zo minority felt increasingly alienated.
The Kuki-Zo Council, the apex body representing the Kuki-Zo communities, stated that Mr. Singh’s resignation does not alter their demand for a separate administration. They maintain that a political solution is the only way to resolve the deep-seated ethnic division. The conflict has resulted in a de facto segregation, with the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities largely separated geographically.
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