IMPHAL: Former BJP minister and sitting MLA Thongam Bishwajit Singh on Friday steered clear of commenting on the Centre’s decision to extend President’s Rule in Manipur for another six months. The extension, set to commence from August 13, 2025, and run until February 2026, was formally moved as a statutory resolution by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day.
Singh, who was attending the Kargil Vijay Diwas observance at the MFSDS Auditorium in Palace Compound, Imphal East, was approached by media persons for his reaction to the significant political development. However, the BJP legislator offered a terse reply, stating, “I am not the right person to answer that question.” Despite his reluctance to delve into the specifics of the extension, Singh underlined a broader sentiment, emphasising, “Let peace prevail first.”
The Rajya Sabha Parliamentary bulletin confirmed the Centre’s move, noting, “That this House approves the continuance in force of the Proclamation dated the 13th February, 2025, in respect of Manipur, issued under Article 356 of the Constitution by the President, for a further period of six months with effect from 13th August, 2025.”
President’s Rule was initially imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. While the Manipur Legislative Assembly currently remains under suspended animation, some BJP MLAs in the state had recently voiced hopes for the swift formation of a popular government. The Centre’s decision, however, appears to signal a delay in the restoration of political normalcy, despite the ongoing internal efforts by BJP leaders within Manipur.
Read More: Cross-Border Smuggling Bid Foiled: Two Killed in BSF Firing in South Tripura