Manipur set to get Y Khemchand Singh as CM, Kuki leader Nemcha Kipgen and a Naga leader as deputy CMs

New Delhi/Guwahati: BJP on Tuesday unveiled a leadership arrangement for Manipur, naming senior leader and Taekwondo master Y Khemchand Singh as chief minister designate and Nemcha Kipgen as deputy CM to strike an ethnic balance in a state emerging from prolonged unrest.

With Singh from the Meitei community and Kipgen a prominent Kuki face, the move is being seen as a high-stake reconciliation effort after nearly a year of President’s Rule. Kipgen’s elevation as deputy CM is intended to send a message of inclusion to the Kuki-Zos.

ET had, on February 2, reported that BJP is considering appointing a Meitei CM and a Kuki deputy CM. Also, there is a strong possibility of a Naga deputy CM from NPF (5 MLAs). In addition, NPP will be part of the new government.


Khemchand was elected leader of BJP legislature party at ameeting attended by party observer Tarun Chugh and northeast in-charge Sambit Patra. Kipgen, a former minister in the N Biren Singh government, was elected deputy leader. A separate meeting of NDA MLAs is expected to formally endorse Singh as the coalition’s leader, paving the way for government formation ahead of the expiry of President’s Rule next week. Manipur was brought under President’s Rule on February 13, 2025, due to the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis.

In the past 2.5 years, Khemchand has been reaching out to Kukis and, on December 8, 2025, for the first time since ethnic violence engulfed Manipur, he travelled to two Kuki villages in a confidence-building measure. Khemchand had said that Manipur is home to 36 communities. “Meiteis being the majority community needs to play the role of big brother in resolving the present conflict,” he said. He said Meiteis were still hesitant to cross Kangpokpi on NH 39 because there is trust deficit with Kukis. We need to remove this,” he added.

A 5th Dan Taekwondo master, Khemchand graduated in the martial art from World Taekwondo Academy in Seoul. Vice president of Assam Olympics Association, he was instrumental in forming All-Assam Taekwondo Association in 1982. He was speaker of Manipur assembly during 2017-2022. Khemchand became a minister in 2022.