Imphal, Feb 4 (NationPress) Yumnam Khemchand Singh, the former Assembly Speaker and Minister, was officially inaugurated as the new Chief Minister of Manipur on Wednesday.

This event came just a day after the BJP declared in New Delhi that the 61-year-old leader from the Meitei community would assume the role of the new Legislature Party Leader.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new Chief Minister, alongside two Deputy Chief Ministers and two additional ministers during a ceremony held at the Lok Bhavan.

The ministers who took the oath included Nemcha Kipgen and Govindas Konthoujam, both representing the BJP, Loishi Dikho of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), and Khuraijam Loken Singh from the National People’s Party.

Notably, former minister Nemcha Kipgen took the oath virtually from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi as Deputy Chief Minister, making her the first woman minister in the current cabinet and a member of the Kuki tribal community.

Dikho of the NPF also assumes the role of Deputy Chief Minister.

The ministry led by Khemchand Singh is expected to expand later, as there are still seven ministerial positions vacant.

Among those in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony were Tarun Chugh, the BJP's newly appointed Central observer, Sambit Patra, the party’s Northeast coordinator, former Chief Minister Biren Singh, Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, several MLAs, and numerous high-profile guests.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Centre lifted President’s Rule from Manipur, allowing for the establishment of the Yumnam Khemchand Singh-led NDA government, according to officials.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 356 of the Constitution, I, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, hereby revoke the Proclamation issued by me under the said article on the 13th day of February, 2025, concerning the State of Manipur, effective from the 4th day of February, 2026,” stated a notification released by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan.

Manipur had been under President’s Rule since February 13 last year, following the resignation of then-Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amidst ongoing ethnic unrest. Singh resigned on February 9 after extended violence between the non-tribal Meitei and tribal Kuki-Zo communities. The unrest began on May 3, 2023, during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts, leading to over 260 fatalities, approximately 1,500 injuries, and displacing more than 70,000 individuals.

The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which was in suspended animation following the declaration of President’s Rule, is set to continue until 2027.

Party leaders and a significant number of MLAs warmly welcomed Khemchand Singh upon his arrival at Imphal airport from New Delhi on Wednesday morning.

Concluding a prolonged period of uncertainty and discussions regarding government formation in Manipur, the BJP announced on Tuesday that Khemchand Singh would be the next Chief Minister. BJP officials stated that he was appointed as the Legislature Party Leader during a meeting in the national capital attended by BJP MLAs from Manipur, along with Central Observer Chugh and Patra, among other senior leaders.

During this meeting at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, Biren Singh proposed Khemchand Singh's name as the Legislature Party leader.

The BJP holds 37 seats in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, while its NDA allies—the National People’s Party (NPP) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF)—hold six and five seats, respectively. There are also three Independent MLAs supporting the BJP-led NDA.

Earlier, Khemchand Singh, along with Chugh, Sambit Patra, Biren Singh, Sharda Devi, and several MLAs, met with the Governor at the Lok Bhavan to assert his claim to form the government, after which he was formally invited to do so.