Manipur is likely to witness the formation of a new NDA government today, nearly a year after President’s Rule was imposed in the state. BJP MLA Yumnam Khemchand Singh is expected to meet the Governor and stake claim to form the government. He took oath as the new Chief Minister later in the day.

The new government is set to include two Deputy Chief Ministers, one from the Kuki community and another from the Naga community. Nemcha Kipgen, a senior BJP leader and former minister, will become the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of the state. Naga People’s Front (NPF) MLA Losii Dikho is expected to serve as the second Deputy CM.

BJP legislature party elected Yumnam Khemchand as leader

A meeting of BJP’s Manipur legislature party was held earlier this week in New Delhi where Yumnam Khemchand Singh was unanimously chosen as the party’s leader in the Assembly. Discussions among NDA allies are expected to confirm the names of the Chief Minister and both Deputy Chief Ministers.

The decision follows the imposition of President’s Rule on 13 February 2025, which came after the resignation of then-Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amidst ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The term of President’s Rule ends on 12 February 2026.

Profile of the incoming Chief Minister

Yumnam Khemchand Singh represents Singjamei constituency in Imphal West and is a senior BJP leader from the Meitei community. He served as Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022 and held a ministerial post in the second government led by N. Biren Singh. Khemchand is considered a close associate of Biren Singh but is known to have maintained a more moderate stance.

Following the ethnic clashes in May 2023, he became one of the first Meitei leaders to visit Kuki-dominated relief camps in December 2025, indicating his role in peace outreach efforts.

Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho to be appointed as Deputy Chief Ministers

Nemcha Kipgen has been elected twice from the Kangpokpi constituency, a Kuki-majority area. She has previously served as Minister for Social Welfare and Cooperation (2017–2020) and later held the Commerce and Industry portfolio. During the ethnic unrest, her official residence in Imphal was vandalised. She was among the ten Kuki-Zo legislators who demanded a separate administrative setup for tribal regions.

Losii Dikho, the other probable Deputy Chief Minister, represents the Naga-majority region and is affiliated with the NPF, a BJP ally.

Current composition of Manipur Legislative Assembly

The Manipur Assembly has 60 seats, of which the BJP currently holds 37. This includes original BJP legislators and five defectors from Janata Dal (United). The remainder includes six NPP MLAs, five from NPF, five from Congress, two from Kuki People’s Alliance, one from JD(U), and three Independents. One seat remains vacant following the death of a sitting MLA.

The state government formed in 2022 had its term suspended after the imposition of President’s Rule, although it officially runs until 2027.

Ethnic tensions remain a key issue

Tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities have persisted since April 2023. One of the core issues has been the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Meitei community. A Manipur High Court directive asking the state to consider this demand triggered fierce protests from the Kuki groups, who fear the move could impact their rights over tribal land.

Additionally, the Kuki community has long advocated for a separate administrative region, which has been strongly opposed by both the Meitei community and the state government. Allegations around drug trafficking, particularly involving cross-border smuggling from Myanmar, have further strained the situation, with Kuki groups accusing the state administration of bias.

With the expected formation of the new government today, political leadership in the state is set for a significant reset.

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