Manipur Governor orders upcoming Assembly session null & void
In a sudden and unexpected turn of events, the Manipur Governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, has declared the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, which was set to start from February 10, “null and void” with immediate effect. This decision comes on the heels of Chief Minister N Biren Singh tendering his resignation to Governor Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Sunday.
The seventh session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly was scheduled to convene on February 10, with a packed agenda that included the presentation of the state budget for the fiscal year 2023-24. However, with the Governor’s sudden decision, the entire session has been cancelled, leaving the state’s political landscape in a state of uncertainty.
According to sources, the Governor’s decision was made after Chief Minister N Biren Singh handed over his resignation letter to him at the Raj Bhavan. The Chief Minister’s resignation was reportedly accepted by the Governor, leading to the cancellation of the Assembly session.
This sudden turn of events has raised many questions about the future of the Manipur government. With the Assembly session cancelled, it is unclear when the state will have a new government in place. The Chief Minister’s resignation has also sparked speculation about the possibility of a mid-term election or the appointment of an interim government.
The cancellation of the Assembly session is seen as a significant development in the state’s political history. The Manipur Legislative Assembly has been in session since March 2017, and the seventh session was expected to be a crucial one, with the state budget being a major agenda item.
The state government had been facing criticism over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there were reports of a no-confidence motion being tabled against the Chief Minister. However, with the Assembly session cancelled, it is unclear whether the no-confidence motion will be taken up or not.
The opposition parties in the state have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with the Chief Minister’s handling of the government and have been demanding his resignation. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition party in the state, had been planning to move a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister, but this development has put a hold on those plans.
The cancellation of the Assembly session has also raised questions about the role of the Governor in the state’s political crisis. With the Chief Minister’s resignation, the Governor is now left with the responsibility of administering the state until a new government is formed. This has led to speculation about the possibility of the Governor taking over the reins of the state government temporarily.
In a statement, the Governor’s office said that the decision to cancel the Assembly session was taken in accordance with Article 174 of the Constitution, which deals with the summoning and prorogation of the state legislature.
“The Governor has taken this decision in exercise of his powers under Article 174 of the Constitution, which enables him to summon, prorogue, and dissolve the state legislature,” the statement said.
The development has sent shockwaves through the state’s political corridors, with many politicians and civil society groups expressing surprise and concern about the sudden turn of events. The people of Manipur are now left wondering what the future holds for their state, and whether a new government will be formed soon.
As the political situation in Manipur continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the cancellation of the Assembly session has set off a chain reaction of events that will have far-reaching consequences for the state and its people.
