Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Taekwondo Black Belt, Set to Become Manipur Chief Minister; NDA Meeting in Delhi Clears Way for Popular Government

New Delhi/Imphal: Taekwondo 5th Dan black belt, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, is set to become the next Chief Minister of Manipur, marking the return of a popular government in the state after nearly a year under President’s Rule. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Manipur NDA legislative party held in Delhi, according to party sources.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday formally initiated the process of government formation by appointing its national general secretary Tarun Chugh as central observer to oversee consultations and the floor process. Singh, a senior BJP leader and sitting MLA from Singjamei Assembly Constituency, will be the 13th Chief Minister of Manipur and the second BJP CM, chosen to lead the state out of prolonged political and social uncertainty.

Yumnam Khemchand Singh(left) congratulated by former C.M. of Manipur N.Biren Singh (right)

The announcement has been widely welcomed as a major relief for the people of Manipur, who have consistently voiced their desire for the restoration of an elected government after months of administrative vacuum. President’s Rule was first imposed on February 13, 2025, following prolonged ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities, and later extended by another six months in August. The Assembly, whose term runs till 2027, has remained under suspended animation since the resignation of the N Biren Singh-led government on February 9, 2025

Significantly, party insiders say Khemchand Singh’s selection for the top post is unlikely to antagonise Kuki-Zo MLAs, as he is known to have maintained a working rapport with them even during the most volatile phase of the crisis. Sources further point out that during the early days of the violence in May 2023, Singh is said to have facilitated safe passage for fleeing Kuki-Zo MLAs, a gesture that earned him trust across factional lines. This factor is being seen as crucial at a time when political reconciliation remains fragile.

Yumnam Khemchand Singh as Speaker of the House during the tenure of 2017-2022

Several BJP MLAs from Manipur made a beeline to Delhi in recent days for consultations with the party’s central leadership, coinciding with the nearing end of the second term of President’s Rule. The Union government, during the height of the crisis, had also summoned Manipur’s cabinet ministers—including Khemchand Singh—to Delhi, urging them to focus on restoring normalcy and rebuilding trust on the ground.

A 62-year-old leader, Yumnam Khemchand Singh belongs to the Meitei community and entered politics in 2012. He was elected to the Assembly in his second attempt in 2017. He served as Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022, a tenure marked by procedural restraint and legislative order. Following the 2022 Assembly elections, he was inducted into the Second Biren Singh ministry, where he held key portfolios including Municipal Administration & Housing Development (MAHUD), Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, and Education, until President’s Rule was imposed in February 2025.

Yumnam Khemchand Singh in his signature Taekwondo pose

Beyond politics, Singh is also known for his lifelong engagement with martial arts. In late 2025, he became the first Indian to receive the 5th Dan black belt in traditional Taekwondo, awarded by the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation in Seoul, South Korea. He is a former Vice President of the Taekwondo Federation of India and has been associated with the early institutional development of the sport in the Northeast. He is notably the only elected representative with a black belt in Taekwondo.

Within the BJP, Khemchand Singh, a long-time RSS cadre, is regarded as a non-polarising, organisation-focused leader, valued more for discipline and consensus than for rhetoric. As Manipur prepares to transition from central rule back to an elected government, party leaders believe his elevation could provide the stability and restraint needed to begin the long process of political and social repair.

The formal swearing-in is expected once procedural clearances are completed and numbers are finalised.