GOVERNOR ADDRESSES 7th ASSEMBLY SESSION; BLACK BELT KHEMCHAND’S COUNCIL WINS FLOOR TEST

Imphal: Manipur’s new government has wasted no time in asserting its presence. Within 24 hours of the swearing-in ceremony, the administration led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh moved swiftly to signal a decisive return to elected governance, following the formal withdrawal of President’s Rule. The transition marks a clear shift in the state’s political course and the beginning of a new chapter after a prolonged constitutional pause.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Khemchand, along with five cabinet colleagues, was administered the oath of office by Governor Ajay Kumar Balla, completing the formation of a six-member Council of Ministers. The cabinet reflects a carefully balanced coalition, both politically and socially, at a time when Manipur continues to grapple with the aftershocks of ethnic unrest.

The ministers sworn in include Nemcha Kipgen, BJP MLA from Kangpokpi representing the Thadou community, and Losii Dikho, NPF MLA from Mao representing the Naga community, both of whom were appointed as Deputy Chief Ministers—a first in the history of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. Govindas Konthoujam, BJP MLA from Bishnupur, has been entrusted with the crucial home portfolio, while Khuraijam Loken Singh, NPP MLA from Wangoi, completes the cabinet.

Political observers see the composition of the cabinet, particularly the appointment of two Deputy Chief Ministers from different communities, as a strategic attempt to project inclusivity and rebuild confidence across Manipur’s fractured social landscape.

Minutes after the oath-taking, the newly constituted cabinet convened its first meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. The cabinet approved the Governor’s Address and decided to convene the 7th Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on 5 February at 4:00 pm, setting the stage for the resumption of legislative business.

With barely 60 days remaining in the current financial year, the session—convened primarily for the floor test of the newly constituted Council of Ministers—is expected to be followed by the 8th Session, which will function as the budget session, making it critical for fiscal planning and administrative continuity. However, the Assembly sitting witnessed only partial participation from Kuki-Chin-Zo legislators, with three attending virtually from Delhi while seven stayed away, underscoring a cautious, collective re-engagement with parliamentary proceedings rather than a full return to political normalcy.

In his address to the House, Governor Ajay Kumar Balla underscored the significance of the Assembly’s reconvening as a restoration of constitutional normalcy, placing the onus on the new government and legislators to steer Manipur out of crisis through discipline, restraint, and collective resolve. Stressing peace, law and order, and social harmony as non-negotiable priorities, the Governor called for inclusive governance, fiscal prudence in the remaining weeks of the financial year, and focused attention on relief, rehabilitation, and essential services, urging the House to rise above division and reaffirm public faith in democratic institutions.

The session concluded with the new Council of Ministers comfortably sailing through the floor test, formally validating the government’s assumption of office. The ruling side secured the expected majority, with BJP legislators and their allies firmly backing the government in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly. The Indian National Congress, with just five MLAs, occupied the opposition benches, as the government cleared the final procedural hurdle to its continuation in power.

Earlier, after taking oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Manipur, Khemchand Singh expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central leadership, reaffirming his commitment to work for Manipur’s development and prosperity. He emphasised inclusive growth and the preservation of Manipur’s rich cultural heritage, aligning his government’s priorities with the Prime Minister’s Viksit Bharat vision.

Speaking to Waari Singbul immediately after the ceremony, Khemchand responded to questions about his confidence in assuming the state’s most demanding political role at a time of deep crisis. Drawing from his personal discipline as a 5th Dan black belt in Taekwondo, the Chief Minister said, “Becoming a 5th Dan black belt is never without hardship. In the same way, I will approach every issue facing Manipur with strategy, patience, and a sensitive hand—no matter how complex the challenge.”

As the new government settles into office and the Assembly resumes its work, expectations are high—but so are the tests ahead. The ceremony is over; governance has begun.