Imphal

Newly sworn-in Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to the national vision of a developed India, asserting that Manipur would actively contribute to the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

Speaking shortly after taking oath at the Lok Bhavan in Imphal, Singh said the state, home to 36 diverse communities, would work towards restoring peace and stability. “Manipur will play a significant role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. We hope to build a peaceful environment in the state,” he said.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office to Singh during the swearing-in ceremony, marking the end of President’s Rule in the northeastern state. Senior BJP leaders Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho were also sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers, joining the newly formed council of ministers.

Reacting to the development, Singh’s wife, Yumnam Joybala Devi, described the moment as emotional. “It is a blessing. It’s a mix of many feelings,” she said.

BJP Manipur unit president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi said the formation of the BJP-led government once again reflected the party’s commitment to the state’s progress. “Our government has been formed again, and we will continue working for Manipur’s development,” she said.

Following the announcement, BJP workers gathered at the party’s state headquarters in Imphal to celebrate Singh’s appointment as Chief Minister and leader of the BJP Legislature Party.

Earlier, the BJP had elected Yumnam Khemchand Singh as its Manipur Legislature Party leader at a meeting held at the party headquarters in New Delhi. The decision came days before the scheduled end of President’s Rule, which had been imposed in the state on February 13 last year and later extended by Parliament in August for another six months.

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Meanwhile, in December, the Union Home Ministry granted an additional extension to the Commission of Inquiry investigating the ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023. The commission has been directed to submit its report at the earliest, but no later than May 20, 2026, and is examining both the causes of the violence and the response of authorities.