IMPHAL: The Centre on Wednesday withdrew President’s Rule from Manipur, paving the way for the formation of the Yumnam Khemchand Singh-led NDA government in the state, officials said.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 356 of the Constitution, I, Droupadi Murmu, President of India, hereby revoke the Proclamation issued by me under the said article on the 13th day of February, 2025, in relation to the State of Manipur, with effect from the 4th day of February, 2026, " a Union Home Ministry notification said.
Manipur had been under President’s Rule since February 13 last year, four days after then-Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned amid prolonged ethnic violence.
Biren Singh had stepped down on February 9 following sustained unrest between the non-tribal Meitei and tribal Kuki-Zo communities. More than 260 people were killed, around 1, 500 injured, and over 70, 000 displaced after ethnic violence erupted on May 3, 2023, following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which was kept under suspended animation after the imposition of President’s Rule, has a tenure until 2027.
Senior BJP leader Khemchand Singh will take oath as the new Chief Minister at the Lok Bhavan here at 6 p.m.
A senior Manipur government official said that a few ministers, including one or two Deputy Chief Ministers, are also likely to be sworn in along with the new Chief Minister.
"Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla will administer the oath at the Lok Bhavan, " the official told IANS.
BJP leaders said that Khemchand Singh was elected as the Legislature Party Leader at a meeting held in the national capital and attended by BJP MLAs from Manipur, along with Central Observer Chugh and Patra, among other senior leaders.