The Indian government has brought the troubled north-eastern state of Manipur under direct federal rule days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. Singh, from India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), quit on Sunday after facing months of pressure to step down.

Biren Singh resigned as Manipur Chief Minister two years after violence hit the northeastern state. While the BJP is yet to name his successor, five faces are in focus.

India's federal government imposed direct rule in the restive northeastern state of Manipur, four days after Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh tendered his resignation, officials said Friday. The decision was announced Thursday evening through a notification from the federal home ministry that the president's rule in the state has been imposed under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution.

Thongam Biswajit Singh, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh and Govindas Konthoujam are the names that are doing the rounds for the chief minister's post in Manipur.

The Indian federal government took over direct control of the restive northeastern state of Manipur on Thursday after the region's chief minister resigned amid ethnic violence that has killed at least 250 people over two years and displaced thousands.

Ethnic violence between Meiteis, who make up slightly more than half of the population, and the minority Kuki community has killed more than 250 people and displaced about 60,000 since May 2023.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned today - two years after ethnic violence broke out in the state - to quell dissidence in the state BJP against his leadership as his government faces the possibility of a Congress no-confidence motion.

The chief minister of India's northeastern state of Manipur resigned on Sunday, bowing to pressure to quit amid ongoing ethnic clashes that have cost at least 250 lives since they broke out nearly two years ago.