New Manipur CM takes oath

BJP leader Y Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the chief minister of Manipur on Wednesday, after nearly a year-long President’s Rule in the State.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 62-year-old legislator. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan in Imphal, hours after the President’s rule in the state was revoked.

BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen, who belongs to the Kuki community, and Naga People’s Front legislator L Dikho took oath as the deputy chief ministers of Manipur.

BJP’s Govindas Konthoujam and K Loken Singh of NPP were also sworn in as ministers. Kipgen took oath virtually from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi.

The decks for Y Singh to take oath earlier in the day with Ministry of Home Affairs issuing a statement revoking President’s Rule.

The north-eastern state has been witnessing ethnic strife since May 3, 2023, after a tribal solidarity march was taken out in the hill districts, in protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Since then, at least 260 people, including members of both the Kuki and Meitei communities as well as security personnel, have been killed in the violence, while thousands become homeless.

The BJP legislature party of Manipur had on Tuesday elected Y Khemchand Singh as its leader at a meeting held at the party headquarters in New Delhi.