After nearly a year of President’s Rule, a popular government has finally been formed in Manipur under the leadership of former minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. He took oath as Chief Minister on Wednesday evening. Along with him, two Deputy Chief Ministers were also sworn in—Nemcha Kipgen from the Kuki community and Lodhi Dikho from the Naga community. A staunch critic of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Khemchand Singh has been personally chosen as Chief Minister by the BJP leadership. By forming a new government in a state that has long been suffering from ethnic violence and political uncertainty, the BJP has made a major strategic move to stabilize the situation.
The BJP worked on a strategy to bring leaders from the Meitei and Kuki communities together in power. This move is being seen as an effort toward social balance and restoration of peace. The party decided to appoint Nemcha Kipgen, a woman leader from the Kuki community, as Deputy Chief Minister. By giving representation to both communities in power, the BJP aims to reduce political and social tension and provide Manipur with a stable government. The formation of a new government in Manipur was both a constitutional necessity and a political compulsion, as the period of President’s Rule was set to end in February. In such a situation, forming a government on time was essential. With the new government in place, administrative decisions can be taken more swiftly, and the process of restoring peace can be strengthened.
In the 60-member Assembly, the BJP has 37 legislators and sufficient numbers to form the government. However, the key challenge was how the party would strike a balance to fully end the Meitei–Kuki conflict and restore peace. Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who belongs to the Meitei community, is known as a leader who enjoys support across communities. He is capable of working with all groups. He has the image of a mature and balanced politician with experience in both organization and governance. He served as Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022.
During this period, he took several legislative decisions and gained experience in conducting the House smoothly. After the BJP returned to power in 2022, he was inducted into N. Biren Singh’s cabinet and held major portfolios such as Urban Administration and Housing Development, Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj. Khemchand Singh enjoys the support of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and also has strong relations with the top leadership of the BJP. Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, in which more than 300 people were killed and thousands were rendered homeless. The violence began after the Manipur High Court directed the state government to send a recommendation to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community.
This decision heightened insecurity among the Kuki tribes living in the hill areas. They believed that granting ST status to the Meitei community would reduce their share in reservations and increase the influence of the valley over the hill regions. The Kukis feared that if the Meiteis were given tribal status, they would be pushed further to the margins. The majority Meitei population mainly resides in the Imphal Valley, while the Kukis are settled in the hill areas. Issues such as land rights, control over forests, boundary demarcation, and rehabilitation have remained centers of dispute in Manipur for many years. The Kuki community accused the Meitei community of encroaching upon their rights. The Meiteis are largely Hindu, while the Kukis are predominantly Christian.
This identity-based divide transformed into political conflict, deepening the crisis further. As violence spread, homes were burned, temples and churches were attacked, and thousands of people were displaced. Curfews remained in force for months in several districts. Internet services were suspended, and security forces were deployed. The then N. Biren Singh government failed completely to control the violence. This unrest deeply fractured Manipur’s society. Both the Kuki and Meitei communities retreated into their respective areas for security. The situation deteriorated to such an extent that members of both communities stopped entering each other’s regions altogether. Kuki groups also accused N. Biren Singh of favoring the Meitei community. Eventually, the central government imposed President’s Rule in the state, though the Assembly was kept under suspended animation. The central government initiated a dialogue process to bridge the growing divide between the two communities.
The Kuki community maintains that the problem can only be resolved through sincerity and impartiality during the peace process. Unless there is equitable distribution of resources or a centralized administrative arrangement, the conflict will not end, and the resolution process will remain complex. The only sustainable way to address the issue is to resolve the root causes of ethnic tension through a solution acceptable to both sides. The Naga community is also included within the broader Kuki grouping. Tensions between the Kuki and Meitei communities date back to the period of British rule.
Now that a government has been formed again in the state, it is hoped that the Yumnam-led government will work toward restoring peace and initiate dialogue to bridge the deep mistrust that has developed between the two communities. Recently, Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited Kuki-dominated areas and advocated peace and dialogue. Despite belonging to the Meitei community, his outreach to other communities could make him an acceptable face in the current crisis. His reputation as a leader who stays away from controversies may play a significant role. What is needed is sustained dialogue between the two communities and the formulation of a clear policy on land and reservations. Without this, tensions could resurface.
The Kuki community will also have to give up its demand for a separate administrative autonomy under the names “Kukiland” or “Zomiland,” as the Meitei community views this demand as a threat to the territorial integrity of the state. Illegal infiltration from neighboring countries also needs to be controlled. An impartial government in the state is essential so that people can trust that the government is working to protect their rights.
