President Droupadi Murmu has officially lifted President’s Rule in Manipur. This decision allows for the formation of a new state government after nearly a year of central administration, officials said on Wednesday.
In a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the presidential declaration under Article 356 of the Constitution was withdrawn. It had been imposed on February 13, 2025, after then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned amid ongoing ethnic tensions. The withdrawal takes effect from February 4, 2026. This ends almost 12 months of direct central rule in the northeastern state.
The move clears the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to regain power in the state. Senior BJP leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh is scheduled to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur at 6 PM on Wednesday at Lok Bhavan in Imphal, party sources reported. Deputy Chief Ministers and other ministers from the NDA coalition are also expected to take their oaths alongside him.
Khemchand Singh, a former Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and a prominent BJP leader, was chosen as the leader of the NDA legislature party after lengthy discussions among coalition partners. The BJP, along with alliance partners such as the National People’s Party (NPP) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF), has a clear majority in the 60-member assembly. This makes the transition to an elected government easier.
President’s Rule was enacted in Manipur following deepening ethnic conflict and administrative paralysis in the state. This unrest was triggered by inter-community violence that began in 2023 and intensified in the following months. With the end of central rule, political power returns to elected representatives. This marks a significant change in governance and aims to restore stability in the state.
The new government is expected to prioritize restoring normalcy, addressing ongoing tensions, and focusing on development and inclusive governance after a long period of central administration.
