Khemchand Singh Takes Oath as Manipur CM
President’s Rule lifted; BJP installs balanced leadership amid fragile peace in the state
- Yumnam Khemchand Singh sworn in as Manipur Chief Minister
- Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho take oath as Deputy Chief Ministers
- Govindas Konthoujam assumes charge as Home Minister
- President’s Rule revoked after nearly a year
GG News Bureau
Imphal, 4th Feb: Yumnam Khemchand Singh took oath as the new Chief Minister of Manipur on Tuesday evening, hours after President’s Rule was formally withdrawn from the state. Along with him, Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers, while Govindas Konthoujam took oath as the state’s Home Minister.
Nemcha Kipgen was administered the oath at Manipur Bhavan, while the remaining members of the new council of ministers were sworn in in Imphal.
President’s Rule had been imposed in Manipur after the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in February 2025. During this period, the Manipur Legislative Assembly remained in suspended animation—neither dissolved nor functional.
Speaking after taking oath, Khemchand Singh said the BJP’s national leadership had entrusted him with a major responsibility. “The BJP leadership has given me a huge responsibility to bring development to Manipur. We have and will accommodate the aspirations of all communities,” he said.
The composition of the new leadership has been seen as a conscious attempt to strike a balance among Manipur’s diverse communities. While Khemchand Singh belongs to the Meitei community, Nemcha Kipgen is from the Kuki tribe and Losii Dikho represents the Naga community.
At 61, Khemchand Singh is regarded within the BJP as a non-polarising figure acceptable across internal factions during a sensitive political transition. Party sources said he is viewed as a steady administrative choice capable of restoring organisational discipline and governance stability amid prolonged political uncertainty.
Manipur has witnessed uneasy calm nearly three years after ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei community, dominant in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki tribes, largely inhabiting hill districts. A section of Kuki groups has been demanding a separate administrative arrangement, with negotiations being handled by insurgent groups under Suspension of Operations agreements.
In recent weeks, several Kuki civil society organisations had stated they would not participate in any new government, distancing themselves from Kuki MLAs expected to join the administration. Kuki leader Paolienlal Haokip had earlier said representatives of the Kuki-Zo people could not support government formation without justice and a written political settlement.
On the other hand, Meitei civil society organisations have maintained that displaced persons should be allowed to return safely to their homes even as political dialogue continues. Kuki leaders, however, have insisted that a political settlement must precede discussions on rehabilitation.
The new government now faces the twin challenge of restoring lasting peace and rebuilding trust across communities, while steering Manipur back to political and administrative normalcy.
