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Yumnam Khemchand Singh Named Next Chief Minister of Manipur

The BJP has elected former Speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh as its legislature party leader, paving the way for him to become Manipur's next Chief Minister. His selection follows a period of President's Rule imposed after the resignation of former CM N. Biren Singh amid ethnic violence. Khemchand Singh recently made a significant outreach visit to tribal-majority hill districts, a first since the conflict began. The BJP-led NDA holds a comfortable majority in the 60-member assembly, with government formation expected before the current President's Rule expires.

Key Points: Yumnam Khemchand Singh to be Manipur's Next Chief Minister

  • BJP elects new legislature leader
  • Ends period of President's Rule
  • Follows outreach to tribal hill districts
  • NDA holds majority in assembly
3 min read

Yumnam Khemchand Singh to be next Manipur CM

BJP elects Yumnam Khemchand Singh as legislature party leader to become Manipur CM, ending President's Rule after Biren Singh's resignation.

"We are expecting that the issue of government formation will be discussed. - Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi"

New Delhi/Imphal, Feb 3 Manipur Assembly's former Speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh will be the state's next Chief Minister, it was announced on Tuesday.

The BJP legislature party, after a meeting in New Delhi, announced that Khemchand Singh has been elected as the party's Legislature Party Leader and will take over as Chief Minister of Manipur, where President's Rule has been in force since February 13 last year following the resignation of then-Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amid prolonged ethnic violence.

A member of the majority Meitei community, Singh is a former Rural Development Minister and was elected to the Manipur Assembly from the Singjamei constituency as a BJP candidate in both the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections.

In a significant gesture since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023, the 61-year-old BJP leader recently visited the tribal-majority hill districts of Ukhrul and Kamjong on Monday, marking the first outreach by any Meitei leader to these areas since the conflict began.

After hectic parleys, the BJP on Monday initiated the process to elect a new Chief Minister in Manipur, and the party's Parliamentary Board appointed national General Secretary Tarun Chugh as the Central Observer for the election of the Legislative Party Leader in the state.

Following the directions of the central BJP leadership, a large number of MLAs belonging to the BJP and its supporting parties reached New Delhi earlier this week.

Biren Singh, Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, Khemchand Singh and state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi accompanied the party MLAs in the national capital.

"We are expecting that the issue of government formation will be discussed," Sharda Devi told the media before leaving Imphal for New Delhi.

The Union government imposed President's Rule in Manipur on February 13 last year, four days after Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister of the state, and it is scheduled to end on February 12 this year.

The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which has a tenure until 2027, had been kept under suspended animation.

Following the imposition of President's Rule, senior BJP central leaders, including party national General Secretary, Organisation, B.L. Santhosh and the party's Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra, held a series of meetings with Manipur MLAs in both New Delhi and Imphal.

The BJP has 37 MLAs in the state Assembly, while its NDA allies -- the National People's Party (NPP) and the Naga People's Front (NPF) -- have six and five MLAs respectively. Three Independent MLAs are also supporting the BJP-led NDA.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally some clarity after a year of President's Rule. But the real test begins now. Forming a government is one thing, restoring lasting peace is another. Wishing him the best, Manipur needs healing. 🙏
R
Rohit P
The fact that all MLAs had to be flown to Delhi for this decision shows how centralised the process has become. Shouldn't the voice of Manipur's people and local leaders carry more weight? Just an observation.
S
Sarah B
As someone following the situation from outside, I hope this brings an end to the violence. The outreach to hill districts mentioned in the article is crucial. Peace and development should be the only agenda.
K
Karthik V
He has experience as Speaker and Minister. Hope he uses that administrative skill to get the state back on track. Job creation, infrastructure, and most importantly, communal harmony are the immediate challenges.
N
Nisha Z
The BJP has the numbers, so the government formation was expected. But the real victory will be when people in the hills and the valley feel safe and represented equally. Actions matter more than announcements now.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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