Yumnam Khemchand Singh Takes Oath as Manipur Chief Minister; Two Deputy CMs and Ministers Inducted

Imphal – Senior BJP leader and former Assembly Speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur on Wednesday. His oath-taking followed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s announcement in New Delhi appointing the 61-year-old Meitei leader as the Legislature Party Leader.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office and secrecy to Singh, along with two Deputy Chief Ministers and two other ministers, during a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan.

The ministers who took oath include BJP leaders Nemcha Kipgen and Govindas Konthoujam, Loishi Dikho from the Naga People’s Front (NPF), and Khuraijam Loken Singh from the National People’s Party (NPP). Nemcha Kipgen, the only woman in the ministry and a representative of the Kuki tribal community, took oath virtually from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi as Deputy Chief Minister. NPF leader Loishi Dikho was also sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister.

Officials stated that the Khemchand Singh-led cabinet will be expanded later, as seven ministerial positions remain vacant.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by BJP Central Observer Tarun Chugh, the party’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra, former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, several MLAs, and other dignitaries.

Earlier in the day, the Centre revoked President’s Rule in Manipur, clearing the way for the new NDA government in the state. A notification issued by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan stated that President Droupadi Murmu revoked the proclamation imposed under Article 356 on February 13, 2025, with effect from February 4, 2026.

Manipur had been under President’s Rule since February last year, four days after then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned amid prolonged ethnic tensions. He stepped down on February 9 following unrest between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The ethnic violence, which began on May 3, 2023, during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ opposing the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status, resulted in over 260 deaths, around 1,500 injuries, and the displacement of more than 70,000 people.

The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which remained under suspended animation during President’s Rule, will continue its tenure until 2027.

Khemchand Singh received a warm welcome from party leaders and MLAs upon his arrival at Imphal airport from New Delhi on Wednesday morning.

Ending months of political uncertainty, the BJP announced Singh as the next Chief Minister on Tuesday after he was unanimously elected as Legislature Party Leader during a meeting held at the party headquarters in New Delhi. His name was proposed by former Chief Minister Biren Singh.

The BJP currently holds 37 seats in the 60-member Manipur Assembly. Its NDA allies, the NPP and NPF, have six and five MLAs respectively, while three Independent MLAs are also supporting the BJP-led coalition.

Prior to the swearing-in, Khemchand Singh, accompanied by senior BJP leaders, met the Governor at Lok Bhavan to formally stake his claim to form the government, following which he was invited to assume office.

With inputs from IANS