Manipur is set to get its Chief Minister after nearly a year of undergoing the President’s rule. On Tuesday (3rd February), BJP MLA Yumnam Khemchand Singh was elected as the Leader of the BJP legislature party after the BJP leadership met with the party MLA from Manpur, along with leaders of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners in Delhi. The meeting was attended by BJP’s central observer for Manipur, Tarun Chugh, and its northeast in-charge, Sambit Patra.
Today, BJP Legislature Party Leader Shri @YKhemchandSingh Ji will submit the letter confirming his election as the BJP Legislature Party Leader, along with letters of support from alliance partners, to the Hon’ble Governor of Manipur, staking his claim to form the government. pic.twitter.com/NNWZx2T7dG
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) February 4, 2026
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held around 6 pm today (4th February). Along with Khemchand, BJP leader Nemcha Kipgen, and Naga People’s Front (NPF) leader Losii Dikho will also take oath as Deputy Chief Ministers. Govindas Konthoujam will be given charge of the state department.
Manipur state assembly has a total strength of 60 members, out of which 37 are from the BJP. After the 2022 assembly elections, the state assembly had 32 members from the BJP. Later on, five elected Janata Dal (United) members defected to the BJP. In addition to that, the assembly has six MLAs from the National People’s Party, five from the Naga People’s Front, five from the Congress Party, two from the Kuki People’s Alliance, and one from Janata Dal (United) and three independents. One seat was vacated after the death of an MLA.
The state assembly has been in a state of suspended animation since 13th February last year, after former Chief Minister Biren Singh amid ethnic violence.
Who is Yumnam Khemchand Singh?
Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who belongs to the Meitei community, is a BJP MLA from the Singjamei Assembly constituency in Manipur. Between 2017 and 2022, he served as the Speaker of the state assembly. Between 2022 and 2025, he served as Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and the Education Department.
Apart from being politically active, Khemchand Singh has also worked for the promotion of martial art Taekwondo. In 2025, he became the first Indian to receive the 5th Dan black belt in traditional Taekwondo, awarded by the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation in Seoul.
