Reports claim Yumnam Khemchand Singh to be next Manipur CM as President’s rule may end

Imphal (The Uttam Hindu) – BJP leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh was elected as the leader of the Manipur Legislative Party at a meeting. This clears the way for Khemchand Singh to become the new Chief Minister of Manipur. President's rule in Manipur ends on February 12th. Prior to this, the BJP had intensified its efforts to elect a new Chief Minister.

Central Observer Tarun Chugh welcomed Yumnam Khemchand by tying a turban on him. Manipur State President and North East in-charge Sambit Patra was present on the occasion. Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs reached Delhi on Monday to form a new government in Manipur. President's rule has been in force in Manipur since February 13 last year, which was imposed amid prolonged ethnic violence after the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.

On February 13 last year, four days after Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister of the state, the central government imposed President's rule in Manipur. The 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, whose term ends in 2027, was placed under suspension. Meanwhile, in preparation for the formation of a new government, the BJP Parliamentary Board appointed BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh as the central observer for the election of the legislative party leader in Manipur. Earlier, on December 14 last year, the Manipur BJP legislative party held a meeting at the party headquarters in New Delhi to discuss the peace process and other key issues related to the violence-hit state.

The meeting was attended by over 34 BJP MLAs, including former Chief Minister Biren Singh and state Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, as well as BL Santosh, Sambit Patra and Manipur BJP president Sarada Devi.