Who Will Be Next CM In Manipur? Top Names In The Race
Imphal, Manipur: The BJP is actively scouting for the next chief minister in Manipur after N. Biren Singh‘s resignation on Sunday (February 9). Since speculation over the demand of president’s rule in the State is also going rounds, the party is putting their best efforts to avoid the situation by reaching a consensus on the next CM name at the earliest.
Currently, the BJP’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra is conducting series of meetings and discussions to decide on the next Chief Minister. He is expected to submit a few names to the central leadership.
Some of the key contenders for the post include Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata, Power Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, Public Works Department Minister Konthoujam Govindas, Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh, and MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh.
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Yumnam Khemchand Singh
Senior leader Kemchand is a Cabinet minister and he handles ministerial portfolios, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. He served as the Assembly Speaker during the term of the first Biren government from 2017 to 2022. Kemchand has been critical of Biren’s way of handling the ethnic violence in the State which started on May 3, 2023. He was one among 19 BJP legislators who skipped a key meeting convened by the Biren Singh in November last year.
Kemchand enjoys the support of RSS. An MLA told Indian Express that Kemchand is a strong contender for the CM post because he is the “blue-eyed boy” of the RSS in Manipur and is also considered as someone who is able to “accommodate everyone” and not viewed as a “radical”. Meanwhile, when Kemchand was asked about who would replace Biren Singh, he replied ANI that all the members will accept the decision taken by the party’s high command.
Thokchom Satyabrata Singh
Current Assembly speaker Thockchom Satyabrata Singh is also a Biren critic. Elected from Yaiskul constituency in 2017, he served as a minister in Biren Singh’s first term. As a State Cabinet Minister he handled the departments such as Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Law & Legislative Affairs of Manipur, and Labour & Employment. As per the reports, he was called to New Delhi for discussions and has chances of selecting him. He is known to enjoy the loyalty of a section of MLAs.
Thongam Biswajit Singh
Biswajit Singh serves as Minister For Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Power, Agriculture, Science & Technology. As per the reports, his name has been considered for the Chief Minister’s post since 2022. Singh has been representing Thongju constituency in Imphal East district since 2012. First got elected as TMC candidate in 2012, Biswajit Singh resigned the post in 2015 and in the subsequent by-election, he contested and won the seat as a BJP candidate. Biswajit Singh was one among many party leaders publicly stood with Biren Singh till his resignation.
Konthoujam Govindas
Konthoujam Govindas serves as Minister for Public Works Department, Youth Affairs & Sports in the ruling BJP government. He was elected as a legislator for the seventh consecutive time from Bishnupur constituency.
Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh
An ex-bureaucrat, Basant Kumar Singh is a four-time MLA from Nambol Assembly constituency in Bishnupur District. He currently serves as the Education Minister in the State Cabinet.
Thokchom Radheshyam Singh
Former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Thokchom Radheshyam Singh served as a minister in the first term of Biren Singh government. He is representing the Heirok assembly constituency since 2017. He had served as Biren Singh’s advisor in the second term and resigned from the post in April 2023. A critic of Singh government’s functioning, Radheshyam Singh stated that he was neither given responsibility nor sought advice since his appointment as advisor.
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The BJP has 37 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, including seven from Kuki-Zo community. The legislators from Kuki-Zo has not been participating in the Assembly activities since ethnic conflict started last year, and stated that they will not engage with a state government led by Biren Singh.
The budget session of the assembly, which was scheduled to begin on Monday was stalled by governor AK Bhalla late Sunday, hours after he accepted Biren Singh’s resignation. Singh is continuing as caretaker CM till decision is being made over the top role.
The Singh’s resignation came following a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah. Even though discontent within BJP state unit over Singh continuing in office has been going for a long, BJP leadership has been backing him. However, the situation got worsened with Supreme Court seeking forensic report on Singh’s leaked audio scandal alleging his role in the ethnic violence and the possibility of a non-confidence-motion in the assembly soon, compelled the BJP leadership to give ultimatum to Biren Singh.
