Latest news with #ManipurAssembly
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
How is President's Rule imposed?
The story so far: A delegation of 10 MLAs from the Manipur Assembly met the Governor of the State and pressed for the formation of a viable government in Manipur that has been under President's Rule since February 2025. What is President's Rule? Article 356 is invoked to impose President's Rule in a State after removing the State government. While there are duties cast on federal governments in the U.S. and Australia to protect the States, their constitutions do not have any provision for removing State governments. Under Article 356, the President (central government) may take over the governance of a State when it cannot be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The President can make such a proclamation based on a receipt of report from the Governor of a State or otherwise. The latter situation may arise under Article 365 due to failure of a State to comply with or give effect to any directions of the Union government. The proclamation of President's Rule must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within two months from the date of its issue by a simple majority. Once approved by Parliament, the President's Rule continues for six months, from the date of proclamation, unless revoked earlier. It can be extended for a further period of six months at a time by an approval of both the Houses of Parliament by a simple majority. The President's Rule cannot extend beyond a period of three years in total. What has been the history? Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during the Constituent Assembly debates wished that Article 356 would never be called into operation and that it would remain a dead letter. However, it has been a travesty that Article 356 was misused on several occasions, removing elected governments that enjoyed majority in the States, violating constitutional principles and federalism. Reasons varied from loss in Lok Sabha elections to deterioration of law and order. When it comes to the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly after imposition of President's Rule, there has been no uniformity in the approach. More than constitutional principles, it was political expediency that drove such decisions in the past. Various Governors have adopted different approaches in similar situations in regard to the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly. The advice of a Chief Minister, enjoying majority support in the Assembly, is normally binding on the Governor. However, where the Chief Minister had lost such support, some Governors have refused to dissolve the Legislative Assembly on his/her advice, while others in similar situations, accepted the advice, and dissolved the Assembly. The Assembly was dissolved in Kerala (1970) and in Punjab (1971) on the advice of the Chief Minister whose claim to majority support was doubtful. However, in more or less similar circumstances in Punjab (1967), Uttar Pradesh (1968), Madhya Pradesh (1969), and Orissa (1971), the Legislative Assembly was not dissolved immediately based on the outgoing Ministry's advice. Attempts were made to install alternative Ministries. What have the courts ruled? The Supreme Court and High Courts during the first four decades after Independence refrained from interfering in the decision of the Centre to impose President's Rule in States. It was only after a categorical judgment of the Supreme Court in the S. R. Bommai case (1994), that misuse of Article 356 has been restricted. The court in this judgment held that Article 356 should be imposed only in the event of a breakdown of constitutional machinery as distinguished from an ordinary breakdown of law and order. It also held that imposition of President's Rule is subject to judicial review and should not be misused for political reasons. It further ruled that till Parliament approves the imposition of President's Rule, the Legislative Assembly should not be dissolved, and can be only kept under suspended animation. The higher judiciary has been a watchdog, since the S. R. Bommai case, against the arbitrary use of Article 356. Notably in the case of Bihar (2005), Uttarakhand (2016) and Arunachal Pradesh (2016), the courts have struck down the wrongful imposition of President's Rule. When can it be revoked? If President's Rule is imposed because of the lack of a government with majority, then usually fresh elections are held. After elections, the President's Rule is revoked and a popularly elected government takes over the governance of the State. Manipur was placed under President's Rule in February 2025 due to the deteriorating security situation and consequent political developments in the State. The assembly, whose five-year term ends in March 2027, has been kept under suspended animation. Considering that more than 18 months are left before the assembly term expires, it would be prudent to install a government that enjoys the confidence of the assembly. More importantly, it should enjoy the confidence of different sections of society of the State. Rangarajan. R is a former IAS officer and author of 'Courseware on Polity Simplified'. He currently trains at Officers IAS Academy. Views expressed are personal.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Is Manipur ready for a ‘popular government' yet?
Manipur has been under President's rule since February 13, 2025. But this week, a group of 10 MLAs met the Governor and informed him that they would like to form a 'popular government' with the support of a total of 44 MLAs. The Manipur Assembly has a strength of 60. At the same time, the state is again in turmoil over an incident in Gwaltabi village where security forces allegedly asked for the state's name on a bus to be covered up. Angry protesters locked up central government offices, including the office of the Election Commission, and defaced government signboards as part of a state-wide agitation. What is behind the latest episode of civil unrest? What has been the impact of the President's Rule so far? And what are the chances of a 'popular' government being formed in the current scenario? Host: G Sampath Guest: Abhinay Lakshman from The Hindu's Delhi Bureau. Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more episodes of In Focus:
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
After huddle, 23 Manipur BJP MLAs ‘resolve' to form ‘popular' govt
Twenty-three BJP MLAs of Manipur held a meeting Friday, after which they issued a statement saying that they 'resolved to put aside personal ambitions' in the 'larger interest' of working towards the formation of a popular government in the state, which has been under President's rule since February 13 with the state Assembly being in suspended animation. The BJP has a total of 37 MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, of whom seven are from the Kuki-Zo community and were not a part of the Friday meeting. While the signatories of its statement did not include former chief minister N Biren Singh or Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh, they included party MLAs who had rebelled against Biren as well as those who had backed him till his resignation on February 9. Satyabrata Singh had been one of the major dissidents against Biren Singh. This meeting came two days after a group of 10 NDA MLAs met Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla in the Imphal Raj Bhavan on May 28, claiming that they have the support of 44 MLAs for the formation of a popular government in the state. 'Acknowledging the deep public desire to see the formation of a popular government, we discussed pathways to achieve this with unity and selflessness. We resolved to put aside personal ambitions in the larger interest of the state, its people, and the vision of the BJP and its alliance partners in Manipur,' said a statement issued after the meeting. It also stated, 'As elected representatives, we are united in our firm belief that a long-term solution to the crisis is both possible and necessary… we thoroughly examined mechanisms for inclusive dialogue involving representatives of all communities in Manipur. We strongly support the establishment of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive mediation between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, aimed at building trust and consensus on critical issues.' It also stated that the idea of approaching the Governor or the BJP central leadership to appoint a 'neutral peace envoy or a panel of eminent persons, comprising voices from both within and outside Manipur' was proposed in the meeting. The statement also emphasised on the need for 'inter-community people-to-people dialogue at the grassroots level' and for the recovery of looted weapons 'both in the hills and valley.' Manipur has been roiled by a conflict between Meiteis and Kuki-Zos since May 3, 2023, which has killed over 250 people and left tens of thousands homeless.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"44 MLAs Ready To Form Manipur Government": BJP MLA After Meeting Governor
In a big political development in Manipur, which is under President's Rule, BJP MLA and former minister Thokchom Radheshyam has said "all 44 MLAs" have agreed to form the government "as per the wishes of the people", but the final decision will be taken by the central leadership. Mr Radheshyam made the statement on Wednesday, after he and nine other MLAs met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. "All 44 MLAs have agreed to form a popular government as per the wishes of the people. MLAs are ready to form the government. We have conveyed this to the governor. We also discussed possible solutions for issues (plaguing the state). 10 MLAs visited the governor as representatives to explain our position... the final decision will be taken by the central leadership," the legislator from Heirok assembly constituency said. "The governor took note of what we said and assured us he will take whatever action is in the best interest of the people," he said. Manipur has been under President's Rule since February after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. Mr Singh had been under fire for his handling of the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which broke out in May 2023 and has claimed over 260 lives and left thousands displaced. The Manipur Assembly has a strength of 60, of which one seat is vacant. The BJP-led coalition consists of 44 MLAs, 37 of whom are from the party.
Hans India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
21 MLAs urged PM, HM to reinstate govt in Manipur bypassing Guv: Congress
Imphal: The Opposition Congress on Wednesday slammed 21 MLAs of Manipur for bypassing the state Governor and writing letters to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, urging them to reinstate a popular government in the state. Manipur state Congress President, Keisham Meghachandra Singh, on Wednesday said that these 21 MLAs must first go to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla with their request, but without doing so they wrote letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging them to reinstate a popular government in the state. Singh, who is also a member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, said that 21 MLAs belonging to the BJP and its allies -- the National People's Party (NPP), Naga People's Front (NPF), Janata Dal (United) and two Independent legislators -- in a 60-member Manipur Assembly, wrote to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister for the installation of their government in Manipur. 'These legislators, who should have gone to Raj Bhavan in Imphal to stake claim for the formation of a new government, had chosen not to write to the Manipur Governor. Instead, they chose to write to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister. "The state has been placed under President's Rule. Their actions show that they are not serious about meeting the Governor to stake claim for the formation of a new government in Manipur. The mandate of the people of Manipur can't be played with for their political conveniences,' the Congress leader wrote on his X handle. He said that the people of Manipur want a change. 'The people of Manipur want a new alternative. We must honour the new alternative and the change that the people of Manipur will bring for our better future.' Manipur has been under President's Rule since February 13, four days after the resignation of N. Biren Singh from the Chief Minister's post. The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which, after the promulgation of President's Rule, has been put under suspended animation, has a tenure till 2027. The letter of the MLAs to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, which is available with IANS, said that the people of Manipur welcomed President's Rule with lots of hope and expectations, but no visible actions to bring peace and normalcy in the state have been seen so far. The letter said, 'There is a strong apprehension among the common people that violence may recur in the state. Many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have come out openly against the imposition of President's Rule. They have been demanding the installation of a popular government in the state. "These organisations have started holding public rallies, street corner meetings, instigating the general public, blaming the ruling MLAs for not staking a claim to form a popular government and fixing responsibility for the imposition of President's Rule in Manipur.' The MLAs in their letter dated April 29 said that the installation of a popular government is the only means to bring peace and normalcy in Manipur. 'We assure you that we will work with full dedication and devotion to bring peace and normalcy in our state after the installation of a popular government,' the letter said. After the imposition of President's Rule on February 13, this is the first major appeal to the Centre to reinstate the state government. In a bid to resolve the two-year-long ethnic hostilities, the first tripartite meeting between the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the representatives of Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities was held in New Delhi on April 5.
