Manipur CM Khemchand Singh meets Kiren Rijiju, Amit Shah in New Delhi
Synopsis
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh made a high-stakes New Delhi trip on 26 August, securing pledges from both Kiren Rijiju and Amit Shah ahead of state assembly elections. The most concrete outcome: Home Minister Shah will visit Manipur in October to lay the foundation stone of a new medical college in Senapati — a district long underserved on healthcare.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh met Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on 26 August .
Rijiju assured full ministry support for minority community welfare and developmental projects in Manipur.
The two leaders also discussed the Manipur Assembly elections scheduled for early next year.
Home Minister Shah pledged the Centre's full support and is set to visit Manipur in the first week of October .
During his October visit, Shah will lay the foundation stone of the new Senapati Medical College in Senapati district .
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday, 26 August held back-to-back meetings with senior Union ministers in New Delhi, discussing a broad range of development and welfare issues concerning the state. The Chief Minister met Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju and separately called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, both at their official residences.
Key Discussions with Rijiju
At the meeting with Rijiju, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh sought the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs' support for various developmental projects in Manipur, according to a senior official of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in Imphal. The Chief Minister specifically requested assistance for the development and welfare of minority communities in the state.
The two leaders also discussed issues relating to the Manipur Assembly elections, slated for early next year, the CMO official said. Rijiju assured the Chief Minister that his ministry would provide all possible help to the state. Notably, the Union Minister has a close personal connection with the Northeast, being a native of Arunachal Pradesh.
Rijiju subsequently posted on X: 'Met with the Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri Yumnam Khemchand Singh ji, in New Delhi. Had a meaningful interaction on the development and progress of Manipur and the welfare of its people. I appreciate his efforts to implement all the schemes extended by Narendra Modi ji's Govt for Manipur.'
Amit Shah Pledges Centre's Full Support
Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, Khemchand Singh called on Home Minister Amit Shah at his official residence in New Delhi. The Home Minister assured the Chief Minister of the Centre's full support, according to the CMO official.
Shah is also expected to visit Manipur in the first week of October this year. During the visit, he is set to lay the foundation stone of the new Senapati Medical College in Senapati district and review various ongoing developmental projects in the state, the CMO official said.
Senapati Medical College: A Key Deliverable
The proposed Senapati Medical College represents a significant infrastructure commitment for a district that has historically lacked tertiary healthcare facilities. Chief Minister Khemchand Singh confirmed that Home Minister Shah had agreed to lay its foundation stone during his October visit, signalling a concrete timeline for the project.
Context and What Comes Next
The New Delhi meetings come as Manipur prepares for assembly elections early next year, making Centre-state coordination on development and welfare schemes politically as well as administratively significant. This is part of a broader pattern of Northeast chief ministers seeking direct ministerial engagement in New Delhi ahead of electoral cycles.
All eyes will now be on Amit Shah's scheduled October visit to Manipur, which is expected to give fresh momentum to infrastructure and development projects in the state.
Point of View
And Centre-state optics matter in Manipur's complex political landscape. Securing a personal commitment from Amit Shah for an October visit, complete with a medical college foundation stone, is a tangible deliverable the ruling dispensation can campaign on. Less clear is the broader development pipeline: beyond the Senapati college, the discussions on minority welfare and developmental projects remain vague. With Manipur still navigating the aftermath of prolonged ethnic tensions, the Centre's engagement will be measured not just by foundation stones but by ground-level delivery.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh visit New Delhi on 26 August?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited New Delhi to meet Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking central support for Manipur's development and minority welfare schemes ahead of assembly elections slated for early next year.
What did Manipur CM discuss with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju?
The Chief Minister sought the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs' assistance for developmental projects and the welfare of minority communities in Manipur. The two also discussed issues related to the upcoming Manipur Assembly elections.
What did Home Minister Amit Shah promise Manipur CM?
Home Minister Amit Shah assured Chief Minister Khemchand Singh of the Centre's full support. Shah also agreed to visit Manipur in the first week of October to lay the foundation stone of the new Senapati Medical College and review state development projects.
What is the Senapati Medical College and when will it be built?
The Senapati Medical College is a proposed tertiary healthcare institution in Senapati district, Manipur. Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to lay its foundation stone during his visit to the state in the first week of October this year.
What did Kiren Rijiju post on X about the meeting?
Rijiju posted on X that he had 'a meaningful interaction on the development and progress of Manipur and the welfare of its people,' and appreciated the Chief Minister's efforts to implement central government schemes in the state.
