NDA legislature party leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur at 6 pm on Wednesday at Lok Bhavan, marking the formation of a BJP-led government after nearly a year of President’s Rule in the violence-hit state.
The Manipur unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party announced the timing of the swearing-in ceremony shortly after Mr. Khemchand staked claim to form the government earlier in the day. Preparations for the ceremony have been underway at Lok Bhavan since Wednesday morning.
“The swearing-in ceremony of Shri @YKhemchandSingh as the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Manipur will take place today, 4th February 2026, at 6:00 PM at Lok Bhavan,” the BJP Manipur said in a post on X.
“Under his experienced and visionary leadership, Manipur is set to move forward on the path of peace, development, and good governance, ushering in a new era of stability and progress for the state,” the party added.
The announcement came minutes after an NDA delegation led by Mr. Khemchand met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Lok Bhavan and submitted a claim to form a popular government. Two MLAs from the Kuki-Zo majority districts of Churachandpur and Pherzawl were part of the delegation.
Khemchand, 62, was elected BJP legislature party leader on Tuesday at a meeting held in New Delhi and was subsequently chosen as the NDA legislature party leader, clearing the way for the formation of the new government.
Also read: Political parleys on Manipur as NDA MLAs arrive in Delhi
Earlier, BJP MLA Thongam Biswajit said that five MLAs, including Mr. Khemchand, would be sworn in as ministers as part of the initial Council of Ministers. Sources have indicated that the new government is likely to include one or two Deputy Chief Ministers, with representation expected from the Kuki-Zo community.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 2025, following the resignation of then Chief Minister N Biren Singh amid mounting criticism over his government’s handling of prolonged ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The violence erupted in May 2023 and led to widespread displacement, deaths and prolonged political instability.
Following Mr. Biren Singh’s resignation, the 60-member Manipur Assembly was placed under suspended animation, though its tenure runs until 2027.
The BJP currently holds 37 seats in the Assembly. Its NDA allies, the National People’s Party and the Naga People’s Front, have six and five MLAs respectively, while three Independent legislators are also supporting the BJP-led coalition.
Senior BJP leaders have held a series of consultations with Manipur MLAs over the past year in both New Delhi and Imphal as the party sought to resolve internal differences and restore an elected government in the state.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is expected to issue a formal notification withdrawing President’s Rule ahead of the swearing-in ceremony later on Wednesday.
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