The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday came down heavily on the Central Government’s decision to extend President’s Rule in Manipur, calling it a direct assault on democratic values and federalism. The party accused the ruling BJP of engineering a constitutional vacuum in the state while failing to provide a stable government even after months of unrest.The Centre is reportedly planning to extend President’s Rule in Manipur by another six months starting August 13. A statutory resolution for the extension, moved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has already been accepted by the Rajya Sabha chair and is expected to be discussed in Parliament next week. Addressing the media in Imphal, Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra voiced strong disapproval of the move, saying, “It is not the people’s will to be ruled by the Centre indefinitely. The extension of President’s Rule not only undermines democracy but also disrespects the federal spirit enshrined in the Constitution.”
Meghachandra said that the current political vacuum was a direct consequence of the BJP’s inability to form a new government following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in February this year. “There is no strong BJP leader left in Manipur capable of taking charge. This is the failure of the so-called double-engine government,” he stated.The Congress leader pointed out that President’s Rule is meant to be a temporary arrangement, invoked only in times of constitutional breakdown, and not as a long-term substitute for elected governance. “Its continued extension due to internal administrative failure is unprecedented and alarming,” he added. Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, after months of ethnic conflict and administrative instability. The situation in the state has remained tense since May 2023, when violent clashes broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. Over 260 lives have been lost, and thousands of people remain displaced, many still living in relief camps or away from their ancestral homes.
Despite the urgency of the crisis, the BJP has failed to either restore normalcy or form a new government in the state. The Congress has consistently maintained that prolonged Central rule is not a solution and has instead demanded the restoration of democratic governance through an accountable and inclusive leadership.“The extension of President’s Rule only delays political healing. Manipur’s people deserve an elected government that listens to them, not bureaucratic rule from Delhi,” Meghachandra said. The Congress party has raised concerns that the Centre is using President’s Rule as a political tool rather than a constitutional necessity. With Assembly elections not due until 2027, the continued suspension of elected governance has raised eyebrows in both regional and national political circles.“This is not just about Manipur,” said a senior Congress leader. “This is about the Centre’s repeated tendency to sideline elected governments in states where the BJP is weak or facing internal dissent. It sets a dangerous precedent.”
