Yumnam Khemchand Singh takes oath as Manipur CM; Deputy CMs from Kuki-Zo and Naga communities

Apart from the three top posts, only two other MLAs were sworn in as ministers on Wednesday. One of them is seven-time MLA Govindas Konthoujam from the BJP, who was part of Biren Singh’s cabinet and is known to be close to him. He is likely to be the Home Minister. Khuraijam Loken Singh, a first-time MLA from the valley and a leader from the National People’s Party – another key NDA partner – was also sworn in.

The swearing-in ceremony took place hours after 62-year-old Khemchand met Governor Ajay Bhalla in the Lok Bhavan to stake claim to form a BJP-led NDA government in the state, soon after which President’s Rule was revoked. Significantly, though Kipgen did not travel to Imphal for the swearing-in, leaders who accompanied Khemchand to this meeting included two Kuki-Zo MLAs – L M Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate, both from the BJP – marking the first time since the start of the conflict that legislators from the community have been in the state capital to engage in government processes.

President’s Rule was imposed in the state on February 13 last year, and the assembly, whose tenure ends in 2027, was placed in suspended animation. Khemchand was a cabinet minister in the Biren government, but had emerged as one of his internal critics who pushed for his removal from the top post.

After arriving in Imphal on Wednesday, Khemchand, who was also accompanied by Biren, went to meet Governor Bhalla. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, who was appointed Central Observer, and the party’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra accompanied him.

Meanwhile, despite Kipgen being sworn in as Deputy CM and two Kuki-Zo MLAs supporting the government formation process, voices of discontent began to emerge from some Kuki-Zo groups.

The Churachandpur-based Kuki-Zo Council declared in a statement on Wednesday that “it is neither logical nor acceptable for the Kuki-Zo people to join a government formed with those from whom we have been violently separated”.

It referred to a meeting held last month in which Kuki-Zo insurgent groups and MLAs had declared a set of “pre-requisites” for participation in a new popular government, including a written “political commitment” by the state and central governments on a separate Union Territory for Kuki-Zo-majority areas. The Council warned that “any Kuki-Zo MLA who chooses to disregard the collective decision will be doing so in their individual capacity and KZC shall not be held accountable for the consequences arising from such unilateral decisions”.

Similarly, Ng Lun Kipgen, spokesperson of the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity, said the government was being reinstalled “without first resolving the undercurrent trust deficit between the Kuki-Zo and the Meitei”.