Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, marking the end of President's Rule in the state, which had been in effect since February 2025. The swearing-in ceremony took place at 6:00 PM at Lok Bhavan in Imphal. President Droupadi Murmu revoked the President's Rule, paving the way for the formation of a new BJP-led NDA government in the state.

The imposition of President's Rule occurred on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of then-Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amid prolonged ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The violence, which erupted on May 3, 2023, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' protesting the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status, resulted in over 260 deaths, approximately 1,500 injuries, and the displacement of more than 70,000 people.

The move to revoke President's Rule came after sustained efforts by Manipur legislators to restore an elected government. In April 2025, 21 NDA MLAs appealed to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, citing the lack of visible progress towards peace and normalcy under President's Rule. They also noted that civil society groups were critical of MLAs for not claiming the right to form a government.

Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a senior BJP leader and MLA from Singjamei, was elected as the BJP legislature party leader. Khemchand Singh has previously served as the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022 and held ministerial portfolios in the Biren Singh cabinet, including Municipal Administration, Housing Development, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and Education.

In a step towards inclusive leadership, the new cabinet is expected to include two Deputy Chief Ministers. Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki leader, is likely to become the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur. Losii Dikho, a Naga MLA, is also expected to be appointed as a Deputy Chief Minister.

The new government faces the immediate challenge of restoring lasting peace in the state. The ethnic violence was triggered by several factors, including the Meitei community's demand for ST status, Kuki concerns over land rights, demands for a separate administrative unit from some Kuki-Zo groups, and accusations of Kuki involvement in drug trafficking.

Khemchand Singh's past outreach efforts to Kuki-dominated areas have positioned him as a potential bridge-builder. In December 2025, he visited Kuki-Zo villages in Ukhrul and Kamjong, marking the first outreach effort across ethnic lines by a Meitei politician since the outbreak of violence.

The Manipur Assembly has a total of 60 members and is in session until 2027. The BJP holds 37 seats in the assembly. The formation of the new government is seen as a crucial step towards restoring stability and fostering reconciliation in the state. All eyes are on Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and his team as they work to translate political efforts into tangible peace and reconciliation on the ground.

The revocation of President's Rule comes ahead of its expiration date of February 13, 2026, and marks the end of the eleventh instance of President's Rule in Manipur since 1967.