Yumnam Khemchand to be Manipur CM, ending President's rule
What's the story
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yumnam Khemchand has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Manipur. The decision was taken at a meeting of the party's legislative members at the BJP headquarters in Delhi on Tuesday. This leadership change comes nearly a year after former CM N Biren Singh resigned on February 9, 2025, amid ongoing violence and ethnic unrest in the state.
Political turmoil
President's rule in Manipur
President's Rule was first imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, for six months after ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities. It was extended for another six months in August 2025. The state assembly has been under suspended animation since Singh's resignation, with its term ending in 2027. If a new government isn't formed soon, the Centre may need parliamentary approval to extend President's Rule during the ongoing budget session.
Political profile
Who is Y Khemchand?
Khemchand is a senior BJP leader who has represented the Singjamei constituency in the Manipur Legislative Assembly since 2017. He served as the Speaker of the Manipur Assembly from 2017 to 2022 and was later appointed as a cabinet minister in Biren Singh's government. In his ministerial role, he held portfolios for Municipal Administration, Housing Development, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, as well as Education.
Restoration
MLAs summoned to Delhi, appointment of observer
On Monday, almost all legislators of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Manipur flew to Delhi for a high-level meeting, with the President's Rule coming to an end in the state on February 12. Later, on the same day, the BJP Parliamentary Board appointed Tarun Chugh, a national general secretary, as central observer for the election of the Legislature Party leader in Manipur. Manipur saw violence erupt on May 3, 2023, killing over 260 and displacing more than 60,000.