Yumnam Khemchand Singh to be next Chief Minister of Manipur
REGIONAL: BJP MLA and former Rural Development Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh will be the next Chief Minister of Manipur as the union government is likely to recommend the end of President's Rule in the violence-ravaged state. The BJP legislature party met Tuesday and elected the veteran as its leader, a ceremonial requirement to comply with legislative rules.
However, the meeting did not take place in Manipur, but in New Delhi, where all details are being finalised for the revival of the assembly and the formation of a new government. President's Rule was imposed a year ago after the resignation of former Chief Minister N Biren Singh amidst ethnic violence in the state.
Sources said the swearing-in ceremony for the new government, which is expected to be a coalition led by Yumnam Khemchand Singh, will take place in Imphal this week. Currently, a majority of the NDA MLAs from Manipur, belonging to Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas are in Delhi after being summoned for a meeting by the BJP's central leadership on Saturday.
The months of strife between the Meitei and Kuki communities have resulted in nearly 200 deaths, hundreds of injuries and the displacement of 60,000 people with numerous houses and properties being burnt. This has been the worst ethnic conflict in Manipur state.