Former minister Y Khemchand Singh was on February 3 elected as the leader of the NDA legislature party in Manipur, clearing the way for the formation of a new government in the violence-affected northeastern state. With this development, Singh is expected to take over as the next Chief Minister of Manipur once the formal process of government formation is completed. Sources said senior Kuki leader and former minister Nemcha Kipgen is likely to be appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister in the new government. Her selection is being seen as a significant political move at a time when the state is still recovering from prolonged ethnic tensions. The decision to elect Y Khemchand Singh as the BJP legislature party leader was taken at a meeting held at the party headquarters. The meeting was attended by 35 of the 37 BJP MLAs in the Manipur Assembly. Two MLAs were absent due to illness, party sources said.
The meeting was overseen by BJP central observer Tarun Chugh and attended by the party’s northeast in-charge Sambit Patra, state BJP president A Sharda Devi, and other senior leaders. During the meeting, Nemcha Kipgen was also chosen as the party’s nominee for the post of deputy chief minister. Later in the day, a meeting of NDA legislators was held at Manipur Bhavan. BJP MLAs, along with six legislators from the National People’s Party (NPP), five from the Naga People’s Front (NPF), and three Independent MLAs, unanimously endorsed Y Khemchand Singh as the leader of the NDA legislature party. Kipgen was endorsed as the deputy leader. Sources said there is also a proposal to appoint a Naga MLA as an additional deputy chief minister to ensure wider representation, though no official announcement has been made in this regard so far. According to sources, the NDA is likely to stake claim to form the government by meeting the Governor as early as February 4.
Independent MLA Sapam Nishikant Singh, who attended the NDA meeting, said Y Khemchand Singh was a natural choice for the leadership role. He said Singh enjoys good relations with all three major communities in Manipur — the Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas. “There will be good days, and peace will come to Manipur,” he said.These political developments have taken place just days before the second spell of President’s rule in Manipur is set to expire on February 12. Former chief minister N Biren Singh and Assembly Speaker Satyabrata Singh were present at both the BJP and NDA meetings. Manipur has been under President’s rule since February 13, 2025, after the BJP-led government headed by Biren Singh resigned on February 9 following months of ethnic violence. After President’s rule was imposed, the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, whose term runs till 2027, was placed under suspended animation.
