Who Will Be Manipur’s Next CM After Biren Singh’s Resignation? 3 MLAs Emerge As Top Contenders

Almost two years after the ethnic violence broke out, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday tendered his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal.

As the opposition had planned to bring a no confidence motion against Singh during the session, Biren Singh decided to put in his papers on Sunday following a meeting with Amit Shah and JP Nadda. The Governor accepted Singh's resignation and requested that he continue in office until alternative arrangements are made.

However, the state Assembly session which was scheduled to begin on Monday has been scrapped.

With Singh's resignation, all eyes are now on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to select a new Chief Minister who can handle the state's complex socio-political landscape. Given the ongoing tensions between the Kukis and Meiteis, the BJP is expected to choose a leader who can garner acceptance across communities.

Top Contenders for Manipur CM Post:

Several names are being speculated as potential successors to Biren Singh. Among the frontrunners are:

Yumnam Khemchand Singh

Current Role: Cabinet Minister for Municipal Administration, Housing Development (MAHUD), and Education.

Background: Elected from the Singjamei constituency in the 2017 and 2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly elections. He served as the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022.

Khemchand has been critical of Biren Singh's handling of the ethnic conflict. Last week, he was called by the BJP high command for discussions.

Thokchom Satyabrata Singh

Current Role: Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Background: Elected from the Yaiskul constituency in 2017 and 2022. Previously served as State Cabinet Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Law & Legislative Affairs, and Labour & Employment.

Thongam Biswajit Singh

Current Role: Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Power; Agriculture; and Science & Technology.

Background: A member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly since 2012, representing the Thongju constituency in Imphal East district. Initially elected as a Trinamool Congress candidate in 2012, he joined the BJP in 2015 and won the subsequent by-election.

During the 2022 state elections, when the BJP secured a second consecutive victory, Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Thongam Biswajit Singh were both considered strong contenders for the CM post. However, Biren Singh had outsmarted then and became the CM for the second time.