Yumnam Khemchand Singh signs a document after he was sworn-in as Manipur Chief Minister in Imphal on February 4, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
BJP’s Y. Khemchand Singh took oath as Chief Minister of Manipur at Lok Bhavan in Imphal on Wednesday (February 4, 2026).
BJP’s Nemcha Kipgen, Naga People’s Front’s Losii Dikho, BJP’s Govindas Konthoujam, and Kh Loken of the National People’s Party were also sworn in as Ministers. Nemcha Kipgen will be the State’s first Kuki Deputy CM, while Losii Dikho will be the other Deputy CM.
VIDEO | Imphal: Kuki BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen takes oath as Manipur Deputy Chief Minister virtually, while Naga leader Losii Dikho is sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister at Lok Bhavan.
(Full video available on https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/9AJCgYJcGG
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 4, 2026
Earlier in the day, the President’s rule in Manipur was revoked, which had been in effect in Manipur since February 2025.
The ceremony was attended by several BJP legislators, senior party functionaries, and top leaders of the NDA in the State.
“I am confident that with the formation of the new Council of Ministers, peace and development will serve as the guiding principles of the new government,” Mr. Khemchand said in a post on Facebook. “The political journey towards the vision of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Manipur is not without challenges, but our priorities will remain firmly aligned with achieving these ambitious goals,” Mr. Khemchand added.
Mr. Khemchand Singh is a long-time RSS functionary and an organisation-focused leader who has held key constitutional and ministerial positions in the State. Apart from politics, he has had a long association with Taekwondo. A black belt holder, he is a former vice-president of the Taekwondo Federation of India and has been involved in the promotion of the sport in the Northeast.
He first contested in the 2012 Assembly polls on an All India Trinamool Congress ticket, but lost to a Congress candidate. He formally joined the BJP in 2013.
Born at Singjamei Yumnam Leikai, he completed his High School Leaving Certificate in 1978 from Ram Lal Paul High School in Imphal. He is married and has a son.
Former CM Biren Singh relinquished the post on February 9 last year amid rumblings within the state BJP seeking a change of leadership in strife-torn Manipur. The opposition was also demanding his resignation for allegedly failing to bring the situation under control.
His government had clamped curfew and suspended internet access in the months following the outbreak of violence, but attacks and killings continued, arsons went on, and people from both sides were forced to flee their homes.
In August 2023, Mr. Biren Singh alleged that certain misunderstandings, actions by vested interests, and foreign conspiracies to destabilise Manipur led to the violence.
The former CM was accused by the Kuki Zo community of being involved in the ethnic violence, which was characterised by gunfights between armed groups of the two warring communities, prompting the public to protest.
Intermittent violence continued during the following months, and pressure mounted on Mr. Biren Singh from inside the ruling BJP and outside.
The Kuki-Zo leaders also demanded a separate administrative unit for the community.
Mr Biren Singh left for Delhi five days later and met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The CM returned to Imphal on February 9 and tendered his resignation to Mr. Bhalla. The Governor accepted his resignation and asked him to continue in office till alternative arrangements are made.
(with PTI inputs)
Published – February 04, 2026 06:30 pm IST
