President's Rule imposed in Manipur days after N Biren Singh's resignation as chief minister

This is the 11th time President's Rule has been declared in the state since 1951.

A communique from the office of President Droupadi Murmu following a report from Governor Ajay Bhalla said: "after considering the report and other information received by me, I am satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of that State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India".

The move by the Centre came as the state BJP failed to reach a consensus on the Chief Ministerial candidate and the assembly could not be convened.

Biren Singh had stepped down amid massive dissidence. After meeting the Central leadership in Delhi, he submitted his resignation to the Governor on Sunday.

The BJP's northeast in-charge, Sambit Patra, had been holding discussions in Imphal with MLAs from the party, but NDTV quoting sources reported that despite initial signs of a breakthrough on Tuesday, no decision could be arrived at.

Patra and some other BJP leaders met Ajay Bhalla back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Earlier it was reported that the final call on the next chief minister could be taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to India from the United States.

Article 174(1) of the Constitution says that state assemblies need to be convened no later than six months after their last sitting.

In the case of Manipur, the last sitting was on August 12, 2024, and the deadline for convening the Assembly was Wednesday.