Within the month since he was sworn in as Manipur’s new chief minister, Yumnam Khemchand Singh has largely targeted on assist and reconciliation within the bruised and divided state, though his authorities is but to completely kind and discover its ft.
Khemchand assumed workplace on February 4, a 12 months after his embattled predecessor N. Biren Singh resigned and the presidential rule was issued within the state. Khemchand, a member of Biren Singh’s cupboard and a Meitei chief, is without doubt one of the most senior Bharatiya Janata Celebration MLAs in Manipur who rebelled towards the CM, paving the way in which for his resignation.
Khemchand had made it clear from the start that his mission as CM was to right the picture of partisanship and complicity that the Biren Singh authorities had acquired over the course of the Meitei Kuki Zo battle within the state that started in Might 2023.
In truth, even when the state was nonetheless below President’s rule, Khemchand had crossed the aisle to go to the Kukizo aid camp in Ukhrul’s Litan in December 2025, marking the primary time that an MLA within the state had taken such a conciliatory transfer after the battle started.
Khemchand’s tenure as CM up to now has been marked by an escalation of comparable actions. For instance, the dying of Zomi MLA Bunzagin Barte, who was critically injured in an assault by Meitei mob in Imphal at the start of the battle. Khemchand flew to Gurugram to go to the household of Bharte, who died within the hospital on February 21.
On February 8, the CM together with different Meitei MLAs attended to see off Bharte at Imphal airport the place his situation deteriorated and he was flown to Gurugram.
Later, when Bharte’s physique was introduced residence, Khemchand Naga Deputy Chief Minister Roshii Diho visited the household.
On February 11, Mr. Khemchand visited Jiribam district and met with displaced Humar folks below Zaw, in addition to villagers from Jairolpokpi and Zairon villages, the place a Humar lady was violently shot and burned in November 2024.
The industrial additionally featured a joint interplay with evacuees from the Meitei and Kukizo communities who’ve not too long ago been residing within the camp. He was current on the “different housing campus” the place the Meitei household lives within the Imphal West district, and members of the Kukizo tribe of Kampokpi and Churachandpur additionally participated through video.
On the similar occasion, he introduced 33 million rupees in assist to folks displaced by the battle.
One safety official mentioned the Bharatiya Janata Celebration authorities within the state was “overreaching”. The official mentioned the CM’s “uncommon” go to to fulfill with the Humar group in Jiribam and supply help to the displaced could also be “primarily a gesture”, however famous that “even that is welcome given the continued hostility”.
Nonetheless, it stays to be seen whether or not this gesture will soften the ice. The Churachandpur-based Kukizo Council continues to ‘boycott’ three MLAs from the Zho group who assist the Khemchand authorities. Which means Kuki deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen has been unable to attend work in Imphal and has continued to function, taking long-distance oaths from both New Delhi or his hometown of Kampokpi.
Kukizo Council chairman Henrianthan Tangre acknowledged that Mr Khemchand’s gesture was a “good signal”, however added: “We expect it could have been higher if the president’s rule had continued (the following parliamentary elections are scheduled in Manipur in a 12 months’s time). So whereas they (the federal government) are supporting and comforting Bunzagin Warte’s household and visiting Jiribam and so forth, we’re ready to see if they will do this.” Regardless of the specifics, extending any type of reconciliation to the Kukizo group has probably not began but at this level. ”
Sangre added that they’d be aware of the matter when Parliament opens on March 9. “We’ll see what they really placed on the agenda.”
He additionally identified that the Kuki-Zo group is but to speak with the brand new advisor (North East) appointed by the Union Dwelling Ministry final month rather than AK Mishra. The teams have been in talks to achieve a political settlement over their calls for for an “impartial administration” earlier than Mishra’s time period ended.
One signal of the challenges going through Khemchand is the variety of vacancies in his cupboard. He’ll proceed to have solely 4 ministers sworn in with him, quite than the 12 he’s entitled to. The central management has approached the problem flippantly, specializing in the aspirations of particular person leaders and the state’s various communities.
Portfolios have been even distributed to the 5 cupboard members on March 4, the one-month anniversary. Khemchand is chargeable for eight departments along with these not particularly assigned.
Opposition events declare that the continued vacancies are proof that regardless of the present authorities presence in Manipur, the state stays below central management. “The Middle is giving direct orders to state governments and the CM has not been capable of broaden the council of ministers. There appears to be no efficient authority and the scenario is nearly the identical as in the course of the President’s rule,” mentioned Congress Legislative Celebration chief Keisham Meghachandra Singh.
On the Khemchand authorities’s emphasis on outreach, Keisham mentioned, “He’s attempting so much at totally different ranges and that’s his obligation as CM. That’s what is anticipated of a CM. (However) the Bharatiya Janata Celebration authorities has They’re chargeable for your complete battle and scenario and it’s their duty to revive normalcy.At the moment, we’re ready to see what concrete plans the state authorities has to resettle the displaced households and restore normalcy.”
There have been no incidents of violence between the Meitei and Kukizo communities since Khemchand took over. Nonetheless, violent protests have erupted in Churachandpur over Zaw MLA’s becoming a member of the federal government, and in Manipur, tensions are presently brewing between Kukis and Thangkhul Nagas in Ukhrul district’s Litang space, resulting in violence.
