Multiple contenders for chief minister's chair in Manipur

Manipur's caretaker chief minister N Biren Singh said on Monday that the process to name the next chief minister was ongoing, but an announcement might take some time. There are multiple contenders for the chief minister's post. The BJP has appointed union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Kiren Rijiju as the observer and co-observer, respectively, as the party is working on the formation of the next government.

Speaking to reporters in Imphal, the CM said central observers from the party would visit the state soon.

A senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, told ET: "Although there are multiple contenders, the party will decide taking into account the views of the MLAs. The party recognises the fact that elections were fought under Biren, and that the BJP got splendid results."


Bishenpur MLA Govindas Konthoujam is seen as a contender. He was the state Congress president before he joined the BJP last year. Thongam Biswajit Singh could be another in the race. He, along with 16 other BJP MLAs, had been pressing the central party leaders to replace Biren Singh as the CM. A former Trinamool leader, he had joined the BJP in 2015. Two other possible contenders are Singjamei MLA Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who was the speaker in the outgoing assembly, and Heirok MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh.