As Manipur prepares to emerge from a year of President’s Rule, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has chosen a leader it believes can navigate one of the state’s most fragile political and social moments. Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a senior BJP leader, seasoned administrator, and former Speaker of the Manipur Assembly, is set to become the next Chief Minister of the violence-hit border state.

Known for his calm demeanour, deep roots in grassroots politics, and consistent advocacy for dialogue amid ethnic strife, Khemchand’s elevation marks a strategic shift by the BJP—away from polarising leadership towards consensus-building at a time when Manipur remains deeply divided.

A Voice for Dialogue Amid Conflict

Khemchand Singh came into national focus during one of Manipur’s most volatile moments. On June 20, 2024, women protesters from the Meitei community stormed his residence in Imphal West, demanding clarity on his stance regarding the ongoing Meitei-Kuki conflict that has gripped the state since May 2023.

In response, Khemchand made a remark that would later come to define his political positioning:
“Even the World War-II ended with dialogue.”

The statement, intended to underline the necessity of talks to resolve the ethnic conflict, angered many protesters. Several opposed any engagement with the Kuki community, whom they referred to as “foreigners.” As a Meitei MLA and senior minister in the then N Biren Singh cabinet, Khemchand stood his ground, engaging in a tense argument before eventually pacifying the protesters by assuring them he would convey their demands to the Chief Minister.

At a time when dialogue itself had become a politically risky word in Manipur, Khemchand’s stance set him apart.

Reaching Across Divides: Visits to Kuki Relief Camps

While much of Manipur’s political leadership avoided visible outreach to displaced communities, Khemchand surprised many on December 8 when he visited two relief camps housing displaced Kukis in the Naga-dominated Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.

During his visit, he interacted with Kuki inmates and once again emphasised the urgent need for dialogue to end a conflict that had already pushed Manipur into prolonged instability. By then, violence, displacement, and mistrust had hardened positions on all sides.

According to BJP functionaries in Manipur, these outreach efforts—combined with his engagement with Naga communities—played a critical role in the party high command’s decision to choose Khemchand over N Biren Singh as the state’s next Chief Minister.

“His love for sports and long association with sports activities kept him in touch with all communities,” a BJP leader said. “Because of this quality, Khemchand is accepted by all communities. His long association with RSS activities may also have helped.”

From President’s Rule to Political Reset

Manipur was placed under President’s Rule on February 13, 2025, as the ethnic conflict showed no signs of resolution and political instability deepened. The Assembly was placed in suspended animation—inactive but not dissolved—creating space for the BJP to recalibrate its leadership strategy.

On Tuesday, following a meeting of BJP legislators and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners at the party headquarters in New Delhi, Yumnam Khemchand Singh was unanimously elected as the Leader of the BJP Legislature Party, clearing the path for him to assume office as Chief Minister once President’s Rule completes a year.

The meeting was attended by BJP central observer for Manipur Tarun Chugh and the party’s northeast in-charge Sambit Patra.

A Balanced Leadership Formula: Deputy CM from the Kuki Community

In a politically significant move aimed at ethnic balance, sources told PTI that Nemcha Kipgen, a leader from the Kuki community, is likely to be appointed Deputy Chief Minister.

The pairing of a Meitei Chief Minister and a Kuki Deputy CM is widely seen as an attempt by the BJP to signal inclusivity and reconciliation after nearly three years of ethnic strife.

Political Fallout That Led to Leadership Change

The change in leadership follows the resignation of former Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who stepped down on February 9 last year amid mounting pressure.

A no-confidence motion was reportedly looming after the National People’s Party (NPP), led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, withdrew support from the BJP-led Manipur government. The NPP accused Biren Singh of having “failed completely” to arrest the state’s descent into ceaseless violence.

Further instability came when the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) withdrew support in August 2023, weakening the government’s legislative standing.

Manipur Assembly Numbers Explained

Manipur’s 60-member Assembly currently has the following composition:

• BJP: 37 MLAs

  • (32 elected in 2022 + 5 JD(U) defectors)

• Naga People’s Front (NPF): 5 MLAs

• Janata Dal (United): 1 MLA

• National People’s Party (NPP): 6 MLAs

• Congress: 5 MLAs

• Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA): 2 MLAs

• Independents: 3 MLAs

• Vacant seat: 1 (due to the death of an MLA)

Despite the turbulence, the BJP remains the single largest party with a clear numerical advantage.

Who Is Yumnam Khemchand Singh?

Yumnam Khemchand Singh, aged 61–62, represents the Singjamei (Singjemai) Assembly constituency in the Meitei-dominated Imphal West district. He is a two-time MLA, having won elections in 2017 and 2022.

His political journey began with a setback. In 2012, he contested the Assembly elections on a Trinamool Congress ticket and lost. He later joined the BJP, where his organisational skills and steady rise earned him increasing responsibilities.

Key Roles Held:

• Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (2017–2022)

• Cabinet Minister (2022–February 2025)
  Portfolios included:

  • Municipal Administration and Housing Development (MAHUD)

  • Rural Development and Panchayati Raj

  • Education

He remained a minister until President’s Rule was imposed in February 2025.

Trusted by the Centre

When the ethnic conflict erupted in 2023, Khemchand was among a small group of Manipur leaders summoned to New Delhi to suggest steps for restoring peace.

“He is a face accepted by communities and relied upon by the central leadership,” a BJP leader in Imphal said. “But the real test will be how he convinces civil society leaders from both Meitei and Kuki communities to move towards dialogue.”

This challenge remains formidable, as organisations representing both communities continue to hold firm—and often contradictory—demands.

A CM Contender Before—and Now

Khemchand was not a new entrant to the Chief Ministerial race. He was a strong contender in 2022 as well, when the BJP high command had to manage a leadership tussle between N Biren Singh and Th. Biswajit Singh. Ultimately, Biren Singh was chosen for a second term.

This time, however, the political calculus changed.

In a symbolic moment on Tuesday, Biren Singh was seen offering sweets and posing for photographs with Khemchand at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, signalling a public show of unity as the baton passed.

The Martial Artist Behind the Politician

Beyond politics, Yumnam Khemchand Singh is widely respected for his lifelong association with sports, particularly martial arts.

He is a black belt fourth dan in Taekwondo, having begun training in his teens. Over the decades, he has remained closely associated with multiple sports disciplines, a factor many believe helped him maintain connections across ethnic and social lines.

Recently, he was honoured by the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation in South Korea, recognising his decades of discipline, mastery, and commitment to the martial art.

Before entering active politics, Khemchand was a businessman—a background that shaped his practical, low-key administrative style.

A Non-Polarising Choice for a Polarised State

Within the BJP, Khemchand is seen as a grassroots organiser with strong organisational credentials rather than a mass rhetorician. Sources describe him as a “steady administrative choice” capable of bringing discipline, coordination, and quiet authority during a sensitive political transition.

As Manipur stands at a crossroads—scarred by violence yet yearning for stability—Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s biggest test will be whether dialogue, the principle he has consistently defended, can finally translate into peace on the ground.

His ascent signals not just a change in leadership, but a recalibration of approach in a state desperate for reconciliation.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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