Manipur got a new government on Wednesday, February 4, as Yumnam Khemchand Singh took oath as Chief Minister, ending nearly a year of President’s Rule in the violence-hit northeastern state.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office to Mr Singh, a former Assembly Speaker and martial artist representing the BJP’s Singjamei constituency, at around 6 pm at Lok Bhavan in Imphal. He becomes the state’s second Chief Minister since the 2022 election.
The swearing-in ceremony saw the installation of a Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government, with a Meitei leader at the helm and representation from the state’s other major communities. BJP’s Kangpokpi MLA Nemcha Kipgen from the Kuki-Zo community and Naga People’s Front MLA Losii Dikho, representing the Mao constituency, were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers. Ms Kipgen took her oath virtually from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi.
Two other MLAs also joined the council of ministers. Govindas Konthoujam of the BJP, representing the Bishnupur seat, and Khuraijam Loken Singh of the National People’s Party from Wangoi, both Meiteis, were sworn in as ministers.
The ceremony was attended by two Kuki-Zo BJP MLAs, former Director-General of Police L.M. Khaute from the Churachandpur seat and Ngursanglur Sanate from Tipaimukh. They reached Imphal from New Delhi earlier in the day along with other Manipur BJP leaders and the party’s central observers, Sambit Patra and Tarun Chugh.
The new government formation came hours after President Droupadi Murmu revoked the proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution. A gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on February 4 announced the revocation with immediate effect.
President’s Rule had been imposed on February 13, 2025, after the BJP-led government headed by Nongthombam Biren Singh resigned on February 9, 2025. The resignation came as a fallout of the ethnic conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities that erupted on May 3, 2023. The 60-member Assembly, which has tenure till 2027, had been under suspended animation during this period.
Speaking to journalists before heading for a Cabinet meeting, Mr Singh emphasised the diversity of the state. “Manipur has 36 communities, and, naturally, we have two Deputy Chief Ministers representing two major communities,” he said.
The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president Nitin Nabin had entrusted him with taking the state forward and ensuring lasting peace. “There will always be challenges. We will prioritise peace and work for the state’s development and growth,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Dikho said the new government would try to fulfil the responsibilities given by the Centre. “We will reach out to the people. We will ensure inclusivity and transparency,” he said. Responding to opposition from certain quarters, he said it was expected and that “it takes time to get things going”.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated the new leadership, expressing confidence that they would work diligently towards furthering development and prosperity for the people of Manipur.
However, Ms Kipgen’s swearing-in as Deputy Chief Minister came despite warnings from Kuki-Zo organisations. The Kuki-Zo Council, Kuki Inpi Manipur and other organisations had asked Kuki-Zo MLAs not to participate in the government. These organisations are demanding a Union Territory-like separate administration as a precondition for Kuki-Zo participation in governance.
The Kuki-Zo Council warned that any MLA who chose to disregard the “collective decision” by joining the government would do so in their individual capacity and would be “held responsible for any consequences”. The Kuki Inpi Manipur stated that no Kuki-Zo MLA should associate with or lend legitimacy to a government that stands in “complete disregard of the suffering, aspirations, and political will of the Kuki-Zo people”.
A day after the swearing-in, on February 5, the Kuki-Zo Council made good on its warnings, declaring a social boycott of all Kuki-Zo MLAs who participated in the government formation. In a statement issued on Thursday, February 5, the KZC said the MLAs had violated the Lungthu Resolution dated January 13, 2026, which was collectively adopted by Suspension of Operations groups, MLAs and the council, resolving not to participate in the Manipur government without written political commitment for a Union Territory with Legislature.
“By joining the formation of a Meitei-dominated government, these MLAs have effectively aligned themselves with our enemy, thereby betraying their own people and disregarding the immense pain and sacrifices endured by the Kuki-Zo community,” the KZC statement said.
The council urged Kuki-Zo people not to cooperate or associate with the MLAs “in any social, customary, or public matters” across all Kuki-Zo areas. The boycott will remain in force until the MLAs withdraw from the government and “realign themselves with the collective position of the Kuki-Zo people”.
Meanwhile, the Naga People’s Front, in a statement issued on February 5 from its Kohima headquarters, congratulated the new government and reaffirmed its commitment to extending constructive support to the BJP-led government “in the larger interest of peace, progress, and prosperity for the people of Manipur”.
The ethnic violence that began in May 2023 after a Tribal Solidarity March protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribes status has left more than 260 people dead and an estimated 70,000 others internally displaced. A large majority of them remain lodged in relief camps.
