Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Manipur minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh resigned from the BJP on Friday, stating that the aspirations and sentiments of the people of the state were no longer being respected within the party.
Shyamkumar, who had served as a cabinet minister in the previous BJP-led government in Manipur, submitted his resignation to the state party leadership amid continuing political uncertainty and ethnic tensions in the state. In his resignation letter, he said he could no longer continue in the party because “the voice and aspirations of the people are not being honoured.”
The resignation comes at a sensitive time for Manipur, which has been struggling with prolonged ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023. The unrest has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands of residents, while political pressure on both the state and central governments has continued to grow.
Although Shyamkumar did not directly mention the ethnic conflict in his letter, political observers believe his exit reflects increasing dissatisfaction within sections of the BJP in Manipur over the handling of the crisis and the broader political situation in the state.
Shyamkumar was elected as an MLA from the Andro Assembly constituency and had joined the BJP after leaving the Congress several years ago. He was considered an influential political figure in the state and had handled important portfolios in the Biren Singh-led government.
Reacting to the development, opposition parties claimed the resignation exposed growing cracks within the ruling party in Manipur. Congress leaders alleged that public frustration over the continuing unrest and governance issues was now affecting the BJP internally as well.
However, BJP leaders in the state attempted to downplay the resignation, saying the party remained united and committed to restoring peace and stability in Manipur. No official announcement has yet been made regarding Shyamkumar’s future political plans.
