The Indian federal government has assumed direct control of Manipur following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, as the state continues to grapple with ethnic violence that has claimed over 250 lives in two years.

The northeastern state has been witnessing intense clashes between the majority Meitei and the minority Kuki communities since 2023. The unrest was triggered after a court suggested extending economic benefits and job quotas—currently granted to the Kukis—to the Meiteis as well.

President Droupadi Murmu, acting on a report from Manipur's governor, imposed President’s Rule in the state, which allows direct governance by the federal government. In a statement, she said that the situation in Manipur had reached a point where the state government could no longer function in accordance with constitutional provisions.

Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Manipur’s current governor and a former interior ministry official, will now oversee the administration of the state.

Singh, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a member of the Meitei community, resigned last week following mounting pressure from opposition groups and his own allies. However, he was asked to continue in office until alternative arrangements were made.

The crisis in Manipur has also strained political alliances. The National People’s Party, a key BJP ally, withdrew from the state’s ruling coalition in November, citing the government's failure to resolve the conflict. However, reports suggest that the party has recently rejoined the coalition.

The central government has partly attributed the violence to an influx of refugees from neighboring Myanmar. Despite the ongoing unrest, Singh had expressed optimism in December that normalcy would return to Manipur by 2025.

With a population of 3.2 million, Manipur is home to both the Meitei and Kuki communities, each comprising around 16% of the state's population. While the Meiteis predominantly inhabit the lowlands, the Kukis reside in the hill regions.

The imposition of President’s Rule marks a significant intervention by the federal government as efforts continue to restore stability in the state.