Yumnam Khemchand Singh sworn in as Manipur Chief Minister after President’s Rule ends. BJP-led NDA forms government with two Deputy CMs amid hopes of political stability, peace restoration, and post-violence governance revival.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Assembly Speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Manipur on Wednesday, marking the end of nearly one year of President’s Rule in the northeastern state. Along with him, two Deputy Chief Ministers and two Cabinet ministers also took the oath of office.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Lok Bhavan in Imphal, where Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office and secrecy. The development came a day after the BJP formally announced Khemchand Singh as the new Legislature Party Leader following consultations in New Delhi.
Khemchand Singh, 61, is a prominent leader from the Meitei community and has previously served as Assembly Speaker and state minister. His elevation comes at a crucial time as Manipur continues to recover from prolonged ethnic unrest and political uncertainty.
Among those who took oath alongside the Chief Minister were Nemcha Kipgen and Loishi Dikho as Deputy Chief Ministers. Nemcha Kipgen, a former minister and the only woman in the current ministry, belongs to the Kuki tribal community and took her oath virtually from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi. Dikho represents the Naga People’s Front (NPF), reflecting the coalition nature of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
Two other ministers — Govindas Konthoujam of the BJP and Khuraijam Loken Singh of the National People’s Party (NPP) — were also sworn in. The new ministry, however, is yet to be fully constituted, as seven Cabinet berths remain vacant and are expected to be filled in the coming days.
Several senior leaders attended the ceremony, including BJP Central Observer Tarun Chugh, the party’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra, former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Manipur Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, state BJP president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, and other legislators and dignitaries.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Union government formally revoked President’s Rule in Manipur, clearing the way for the formation of the new elected government. A notification issued by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan confirmed that President Droupadi Murmu had exercised powers under Article 356(2) of the Constitution to withdraw the proclamation imposed on February 13, 2025, with effect from February 4, 2026.
Manipur had remained under President’s Rule since mid-February last year, following the resignation of then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amid intense ethnic violence. Biren Singh stepped down on February 9 after months of unrest between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
The violence, which erupted on May 3, 2023, after a Tribal Solidarity March in hill districts, led to widespread destruction and humanitarian suffering. Official figures indicate that more than 260 people were killed, around 1,500 injured, and over 70,000 displaced during the conflict, making it one of the worst episodes of internal unrest in the state’s recent history.
The 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly had been kept under suspended animation during President’s Rule. The Assembly’s current term extends until 2027, providing the new government a limited but significant window to restore stability, rebuild trust among communities, and address rehabilitation and governance challenges.
Khemchand Singh received a warm welcome from party leaders and MLAs upon his arrival at Imphal airport from New Delhi on Wednesday morning. BJP leaders said his name was proposed by former Chief Minister Biren Singh during a meeting at the party headquarters in Delhi, where Manipur BJP MLAs unanimously elected him as Legislature Party Leader.
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The BJP holds 37 seats in the Assembly, while NDA allies NPP and NPF have six and five MLAs respectively. Three Independent MLAs are also extending support to the BJP-led coalition, giving the government a comfortable majority.
Observers say the new Chief Minister faces the immediate challenge of restoring peace, ensuring rehabilitation of displaced families, and reviving normal governance in a state deeply scarred by ethnic divisions and political instability.
