Celebrations begin in Singjamei after Yumnam Khemchand Singh elected legislature party leader of Manipur BJP

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh has been elected as the Legislature Party Leader of the Manipur BJP, following a party meeting held in New Delhi. His elevation comes at a crucial time as the party looks to consolidate its leadership amid ongoing political developments in the state.

The decision was taken at a crucial BJP meeting held in New Delhi on February 3, marking a decisive step towards political realignment in Manipur after nearly a year under President’s Rule. The development has sparked celebrations among party supporters and local residents, particularly in Singh’s home turf of Singjamei Assembly constituency, where people gathered at his residence to express joy and renewed optimism.

Sources confirmed that Singh’s election as Legislature Party Leader signals the BJP’s intent to restore an elected government and provide stable leadership at a time when the state continues to grapple with prolonged political uncertainty and governance challenges.

Supporters of Yumnam Khemchand Singh have voiced strong expectations that his leadership will help steer Manipur towards peace, reconciliation, and development, following months of administrative paralysis under President’s Rule.

A seasoned and widely respected political figure, Yumnam Khemchand Singh is a two-time Member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from the Singjamei constituency in Imphal West district. He secured consecutive victories in the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections, consolidating his influence in the state’s political landscape.

Singh first rose to prominence in March 2017 when he was elected Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, a post he held for a full five-year term until 2022. His tenure as Speaker is often noted for maintaining legislative decorum and institutional discipline during a politically sensitive period.

Following the 2022 Assembly polls, Singh was inducted into the second Biren Singh-led Council of Ministers and was entrusted with key portfolios, including Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD), Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, and Education. During his ministerial stint, he played a significant role in urban governance initiatives, rural development programmes, and administrative oversight of the education sector.

He continued as a Cabinet Minister until February 2025, when President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur, suspending the elected government.

With his elevation as BJP Legislature Party Leader, political circles are now abuzz with speculation that Yumnam Khemchand Singh is the frontrunner for the Chief Minister’s post, should the BJP move towards government formation. Sources suggest that his administrative experience, legislative acumen, and broad acceptability within the party place him in a strong position to lead Manipur at this critical juncture.