On February 4, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, 62, who studied up to Class X and is a martial arts expert, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur, a State reeling from an ethnic crisis between the majority Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zo people since May 3, 2023.
Manipur CM calls for calm amid protests in Kuki-majority areas
Mr. Singh, a two-time MLA from the Singjamei constituency and a former Speaker of the Assembly, was chosen to lead the State by the central BJP leadership, days ahead of the one-year tenure of the President’s Rule, which was to come to an end on February 13.
Any extension of the President’s Rule beyond this would have required the Union government to move a constitutional amendment Bill in Parliament, not preferable to the central leadership as it would have left the floor open for the Opposition to criticise the government.
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