BJP Set to Decide New Chief Minister for Manipur; N. Biren Singh Not in Contention

Imphal/Delhi, February 3:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated the process to select a new Chief Minister for Manipur. The northeastern state has been under President’s Rule since February 13 last year, following the resignation of former CM N. Biren Singh amid prolonged ethnic violence.

BJP’s Parliamentary Board has accelerated the election of the legislative party leader, appointing National General Secretary Tarun Chugh as the central observer. Party leaders from Manipur, including former CM N. Biren Singh, Speaker Satyabrata Singh, and ex-minister Y. Khemchand Singh, have gathered in Delhi to participate in the selection. Sources say N. Biren Singh is not being considered for the new role.

The BJP currently holds 37 of the 60 seats in the Manipur Assembly, strengthened by the support of defectors from other parties. Allies include the National People’s Party (6 seats), Naga People’s Front (5), Congress (5), Kuki People’s Alliance (2), JD(U) (1), and three independents. One seat remains vacant due to the demise of an MLA.

The central leadership has held multiple rounds of consultations with Meitei and Kuki MLAs, allied parties, and independents over the past few months to gauge the feasibility of forming a stable government. The ongoing President’s Rule is set to expire next week.

Manipur had witnessed severe ethnic violence in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki communities over the demand for Scheduled Tribe status for Meiteis, resulting in at least 260 deaths and thousands displaced. The BJP aims to form a popular government as the state returns to normalcy.