Who is Yumnam Khemchand, set to become Manipur's new CM after President’s Rule - His life, education, political career

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh is all set to take charge as the next Chief Minister of Manipur, marking the end of nearly a year of President’s Rule imposed after prolonged ethnic violence in the state.Khemchand was elected leader of the BJP legislative party on Tuesday during a meeting of party MLAs held at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. With this decision, the party has formally initiated the process of forming a new government in Imphal.The leadership change comes almost a year after former chief minister N Biren Singh resigned from office on February 9, amid continuing unrest triggered by ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities. Violence that began in May 2023 had disrupted normal life across the state, forcing the Centre to intervene.President’s Rule was first imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, for a 6 month period due to the deteriorating law-and-order situation. It was later extended for another six months in August 2025. After Biren Singh stepped down, the 60 member Manipur Assembly, whose term runs till 2027, was kept under suspended animation.The BJP remains the dominant force in the assembly with 37 MLAs, a number strengthened by defections from the Janata Dal (United) after the 2022 elections. Party sources indicated that delaying government formation any further would have required parliamentary approval to extend President’s Rule during the ongoing Budget Session, making the political transition urgent.With Khemchand’s selection, the BJP aims to restore an elected government and push administrative normalcy in the violence-hit state.Who is Yumnam Khemchand Singh?Yumnam Khemchand Singh is a senior BJP MLA from the Singjamei Assembly constituency. A familiar face in Manipur politics, he earlier served as the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022.After the 2022 elections, Singh handled major portfolios in the state government, including Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and the Education Department, giving him wide administrative experience across grassroots governance and public services.62 year-old Singh is also known for his association with sports, particularly traditional Taekwondo. In late 2025, he became the first Indian to receive the 5th Dan black belt in traditional Taekwondo from the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation in Seoul, adding a rare distinction to his profile.