Former minister Y Khemchand Singh was elected leader of the NDA legislature party in Manipur on February 3, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the state after a prolonged period of President’s rule. With his unanimous selection, Singh is set to take over as the next chief minister of Manipur. Senior BJP leader and prominent Kuki representative Nemcha Kipgen has also been chosen as the deputy leader of the NDA legislature party and is likely to assume the role of deputy chief minister.
The decision was finalised at a BJP legislature party meeting held at the party headquarters, where 35 of the 37 BJP MLAs were present. The meeting was overseen by BJP central observer Tarun Chugh and attended by the party’s northeast in-charge Sambit Patra, state BJP president A Sharda Devi and other senior leaders. Two BJP legislators were unable to attend due to illness. During the meeting, the 62-year-old Singh was unanimously elected leader, while Kipgen was selected as deputy leader.
Following this, a joint meeting of NDA legislators was held at Manipur Bhavan. BJP MLAs, along with six legislators from the National People’s Party (NPP), five from the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and three Independent MLAs, unanimously endorsed Y Khemchand Singh as leader of the NDA legislature party. Kipgen’s name was also approved as deputy leader. Sources indicated that there is a proposal to appoint a Naga MLA as an additional deputy chief minister, though no formal announcement has been made.
The NDA is expected to stake claim to form the government by meeting the governor as early as February 4, sources said. Independent MLA Sapam Nishikant Singh described Y Khemchand Singh as a consensus choice, noting that he maintains cordial relations with Manipur’s three major communities — Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas. Expressing optimism, he said peace and stability would return to the state.
These political developments come just days before the second spell of President’s rule in Manipur is due to expire on February 12. Former chief minister N Biren Singh and Assembly Speaker Satyabrata Singh were present at both meetings. Manipur has been under President’s rule since February 13, 2025, after the BJP-led government resigned amid months of ethnic violence. The 60-member Assembly, whose term runs until 2027, has since been under suspended animation.
At present, the BJP has 37 MLAs in the Assembly. The House also includes six NPP legislators, five from the NPF, five Congress MLAs, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance, one JD(U) MLA, three Independents and one vacant seat following the death of a sitting member. Sources said the BJP central leadership has held multiple rounds of consultations over recent months with alliance partners and legislators from different communities to assess the feasibility of restoring an elected government.
President’s rule was imposed following prolonged ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities that began in May 2023 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts opposing the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The violence claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands. Since then, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has initiated several measures aimed at restoring peace, including appeals for the surrender of looted weapons.
