Manipur’s new BJP-led government took oath on Wednesday, but the swearing-in was overshadowed by intense backlash after four Kuki-Zo MLAs defied a community boycott call, triggering widespread protests across hill districts.
BY PC Bureau
February 4, 2026: Manipur on Wednesday witnessed the swearing-in of a new BJP-led government after nearly a year of President’s Rule, but the political reset immediately triggered fresh turmoil, especially in Kuki-Zo dominated hill districts, following the decision of four Kuki-Zo MLAs to break ranks and join the government, defying a collective boycott call by their community leadership.
BJP leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh took oath as Chief Minister, while Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers, representing the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities respectively, in what the BJP described as a move to ensure ethnic balance.
Other ministers who took oath include Govindas Konthoujam and Khuraijam Loken Singh.
Shri Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur by the Hon’ble Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla this evening. Smt. Nemcha Kipgen and Shri Losii Dikho took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers, while Shri Konthoujam Govindas Singh and Shri… pic.twitter.com/23f7DGMadi
— LOK BHAVAN MANIPUR (@LokBhavManipur) February 4, 2026
Kuki-Zo MLAs Break Community Line
The three Kuki-Zo MLAs who defied the formal political stand of their community are:
Nemcha Kipgen — BJP MLA from Kangpokpi (now Deputy Chief Minister)
L M Khaute — BJP MLA from Churachandpur
Ngursanglur Sanate — BJP MLA from Tipaimukh
Their decision goes directly against the resolution adopted by major Kuki-Zo civil and political bodies, including the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), which had categorically stated that no Kuki-Zo legislator should participate in the Manipur government unless the Centre gives a formal written commitment for a separate Union Territory with legislature.
Soon after the oath ceremony, massive protests erupted across Kuki-Zo dominated districts, including Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Pherzawl, and parts of Chandel, with civil bodies accusing the MLAs of betrayal of the collective political struggle.
Nemcha Kipgen’s Elevation Triggers Major Controversy
The appointment of Nemcha Kipgen as Deputy Chief Minister has emerged as the most controversial aspect of the new government.
Kipgen’s husband is a senior leader of the Kuki National Front (KNF), an armed group currently under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Government of India. The KNF is also actively engaged in political talks with the Centre demanding a separate Union Territory for Kuki-Zo areas.
This has triggered sharp criticism from multiple quarters, with civil society organisations and political observers raising concerns over conflict of interest, governance neutrality, and security implications.
While Meitei civil groups accused the BJP of legitimising political proximity to armed groups, several Kuki-Zo organisations accused Kipgen of undermining the separatist political demand in exchange for constitutional office.
Kipgen took oath virtually from New Delhi, citing security concerns, a move that further underscored the tense security environment.
Massive Unrest Across Kuki-Zo Regions
Following the swearing-in, large-scale protests, shutdown calls, and emergency meetings swept across Kuki-Zo inhabited districts.
The Kuki-Zo Council, in a sharply worded statement, said the actions of the four MLAs had “deeply wounded the collective political will of a people struggling for justice, security, and political dignity.”
Several organisations warned of social boycott, political isolation, and sustained agitation, stating that participation in the Manipur government dilutes the momentum of the separate administration movement.
READ: India-US Trade Deal: Russian Oil Exit May Cost India $4–8 Billion Annually
BJP Defends Cabinet Formation
Defending the cabinet formation, BJP leaders said the government reflects a carefully crafted ethnic balance, with:
A Meitei Chief Minister — Yumnam Khemchand Singh
A Kuki-Zo Deputy CM — Nemcha Kipgen
A Naga Deputy CM — Losii Dikho
The party claimed this inclusive formula would help restore stability and trust in a state devastated by ethnic conflict.
However, political analysts warn that breaking Kuki-Zo political unity could deepen fault lines rather than heal them.
A Fragile Political Beginning
The new Manipur government assumes office amid continuing ethnic polarisation, large-scale displacement, heavy security deployment, and stalled political dialogue.
While the end of President’s Rule restores constitutional governance, the legitimacy of the new dispensation remains severely contested in Kuki-Zo regions, where resentment and distrust continue to run high.
With mass unrest intensifying and the demand for separate Union Territory hardening, the new government faces a volatile and uncertain path, where political symbolism, trust-building, and security management will determine whether peace can be restored — or further fractured.
