On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officially elected Yumnam Khemchand Singh as its Legislature Party Leader, signaling the end of nearly a year of President’s Rule in Manipur.
The 62-year-old former Speaker and Taekwondo exponent was chosen as a consensus candidate during a high-level meeting in New Delhi attended by senior leaders and Manipur legislators.
His appointment comes just ten days before the constitutional expiry of President’s Rule, which was imposed on 13 February 2025 following the resignation of N.
Biren Singh. In a historic move to bridge ethnic divides, the new government is expected to feature two Deputy Chief Ministers, including Nemcha Kipgen, who is poised to become the first woman Kuki-Zo leader to hold the post.
Who is Yumnam Khemchand?
Born in 1963 in Imphal, Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s journey is rooted in both sports and community service. Long before entering the political arena, he gained national recognition as a pioneer of Taekwondo in India, founding the All Assam Taekwondo Association in 1982.
He recently became the first Indian to be awarded the prestigious 5th Dan black belt in traditional Taekwondo by the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation in Seoul.
His disciplined background in martial arts transitioned into a business career before he fully committed to public life, eventually becoming a prominent voice for the Meitei community while maintaining a reputation for being approachable across the state’s diverse ethnic landscapes.
Political Ascent
Khemchand Singh’s formal political career saw a rapid rise after he was elected as the MLA from Singjamei in 2017. His leadership qualities were immediately recognised when he was appointed the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, a role he held for a full five-year term until 2022.
During his tenure as Speaker, he was often credited with navigating complex legislative sessions during periods of political volatility. Following his re-election in 2022, he served as a Cabinet Minister under the Biren Singh administration, holding critical portfolios including Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and Education.
His experience in both legislative and executive roles has made him a seasoned administrator capable of managing the state’s intricate bureaucracy.
New Manipur CM
Currently, Khemchand Singh stands as the Chief Minister-designate, having secured the backing of the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS.
He is widely viewed as a moderate and “acceptable” leader whose recent outreach to Kuki-Zo relief camps marked him as the first Meitei legislator to initiate direct dialogue with displaced hill tribes since the 2023 violence.
As he prepares to lead a coalition that includes the Naga People’s Front (NPF), his primary status is that of a “peace restorer.”
His immediate task involves shifting the state from a security-led administration under the Governor back to a popular, democratic government that can navigate the ongoing demands for political separation and ethnic reconciliation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that the return of an elected government is a vital step toward healing a fractured society, provided it prioritises dialogue over dominance.
While the appointment of a Kuki-Zo Deputy Chief Minister is a welcome gesture of inclusivity, true peace in Manipur will require more than just a reshuffling of chairs in the cabinet.
It requires a genuine, empathetic outreach to the 60,000 displaced citizens who have spent years in relief camps. We hope the new leadership moves beyond partisan politics to foster an environment of coexistence and safety for every community.
Political legitimacy is not merely won in meeting rooms in Delhi; it is earned on the ground through justice, kindness, and the humble pursuit of harmony.
