BJP picks Yumnam Khemchand Singh as Manipur's new CM amid ethnic violence aftermath.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has chosen Yumnam Khemchand Singh as its legislative party leader in Manipur, setting the stage for him to become the state’s new Chief Minister as President’s Rule nears its end. Singh, a former speaker and cabinet minister, was elected in a meeting in New Delhi on February 3, 2026, following the resignation of former CM N. Biren Singh amid ethnic violence that began in May 2023 and has caused over 250 deaths and displaced thousands. His appointment aims to restore elected governance before the assembly’s term ends in March 2027, though some Kuki-Zo MLAs have refused to join the government unless demands for a separate Union Territory are met. The new government is expected to be sworn in soon, with a woman deputy CM likely from the Kuki-Zo community.