Opposition Congress in Manipur criticises ruling BJP govt for not being able to expand the council of ministers

Guwahati: Opposition Congress in Manipur criticised the ruling BJP government for not being able to expand the council of ministers.

Former Manipur Chief Minister and Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Okram Ibobi Singh on Sunday said that the chief minister is handling around 20 departments and there is no dedicated Education Minister in the state.

Manipur is likely to go for assembly polls early next year. Ibobi expressed concern that Manipur does not have a full-fledged Education Minister. He said the absence of a dedicated minister reflected poorly on the state's governance and raised questions about the government's priorities.


Ibobi said Manipur required political change to address its governance challenges and improve public administration. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh assumed office on February 4. On February 5, the Khemchand-led NDA government in Manipur won the floor test in the Manipur assembly.

On March 4, the chief minister allocated portfolios among the two Deputy Chief Ministers and two Cabinet Ministers, retaining most key departments with himself.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh, Nemcha Kipgen and Konthoujam Govindas Singh belong to the BJP, while Losii Dikho and Khuraijam Loken Singh are from the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the National People’s Party (NPP), respectively. The lone woman minister and BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen belongs to the Kuki community.

The strength of the council of ministers in Manipur is 12. The state is likely to go to assembly polls early next year.

A senior BJP leader who does not want to be named said, “Formation of popular government after the President’s rule evoked controversy and there were protests over Kuki MLAs participating in government. For the time being the new government is dealing with the conflict situation and trying to restore normalcy. Expansion of the council of ministers is not likely to take place soon.”

More than 260 people were killed, over 1,500 injured, and more than 60,000 displaced after ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities on May 3, 2023. The violence erupted after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Manipur has been under President rule since February 13, 2025, which was revoked in February this year.