Centre to wait a few days for alternate leadership to emerge in Manipur before invoking President’s Rule

Manipur faces political uncertainty as President's Rule looms, amid a constitutional crisis and security concerns.

The Manipur administration remained in a state of uncertainty on Tuesday (February 11, 2025) evening as the Union government waited for an alternative leadership to emerge within the State’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two days after N. Biren Singh stepped down as Chief Minister.

The Manipur Assembly’s last session was on August 12, 2024, meaning that the six-month period within which an Assembly shall meet lapses on Wednesday (February 12, 2025). However, the Centre will wait a few more days before any formal decision is taken regarding the imposition of President’s Rule, a government official told The Hindu.

According to Article 174 (1) of the Constitution, “six months shall not intervene” between the last sitting of the Assembly in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session. No notification summoning the Assembly was issued by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Tuesday.

However, the official noted that the provision does not explicitly state that the Assembly must be dissolved in case the six-month period has lapsed. According to a 2002 Supreme Court judgement in the Bharatbhai Bhagwanjibhai vs State of Gujarat case, “Merely because the time schedule fixed under Article 174 cannot be adhered to, that per se cannot be a ground for bringing into operation Article 356 (President’s Rule).”

After Mr. Singh resigned on February 9, none of the parties in the State — neither the ruling BJP nor the Opposition parties, including the Congress — had staked their claim to form the government till late on Tuesday night. Mr. Singh continues as the State’s caretaker Chief Minister.

Another senior government official said that the next step would be the Governor submitting a report to the President of India on the constitutional crisis in the State.

“The President may seek legal opinion and Article 74 of the Constitution says that the office is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. Since the PM is travelling abroad, it is not clear when the Union Cabinet will meet. The decision on President’s Rule may be taken after his return,” the official said.