Manipur’s Next CM: Who Succeeds Biren Singh?

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts:

1. N. Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister of Manipur.
2. The BJP has yet to name his successor.
3. Five leading candidates are vying for the next CM position.
4. The Congress announced a no-confidence motion against Biren Singh’s government.
5. Sambit Patra held a closed-door meeting with potential candidates.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth:

Manipur: Who Will Be the Next Chief Minister After Biren Singh? Five Contenders

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s unexpected resignation has raised several questions. The most pressing is: who will succeed him as the next Chief Minister of the violence-hit state? While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not made an official statement, sources report that five potential candidates are being discussed as frontrunners for the top post in the northeastern state. The race for the Chief Minister of Manipur is taking an interesting turn.

Reasons for Resignation

Biren Singh’s resignation came a day after the Manipur Congress announced they would move a no-confidence motion against his government on February 10. Biren Singh, BJP North East Coordinator Sambit Patra, and a group of MLAs met Governor Ajay Bhalla on February 9, following which Singh resigned. He has been asked to continue as caretaker Chief Minister for now. According to political analysts, violence and ethnic clashes are at the root of the tensions in the state.

Five Leading Candidates for Chief Minister

Amid growing speculation over the BJP’s choice for replacing Biren Singh, five potential candidates have emerged. These individuals were reportedly present during a private meeting with the state’s party in-charge, Sambit Patra, according to sources.

• Thokchom Satyabrata Singh: Thokchom Satyabrata Singh was elected in the Manipur Legislative Assembly election in 2017 and 2022 from Yaiskul constituency and is currently serving as Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
• Basanta Kumar Singh: He is a four-time MLA from Nambol Assembly constituency in Bishnupur District of Manipur. He won the 2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly election on BJP ticket. He serves as the Minister of Education in the second N. Biren Singh ministry.
• Radheshyam Singh: He was elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly from Heirok in the 2017 Manipur Legislative Assembly election as a member of BJP. He was the Minister of Education, Labor & Employment in N. Biren Singh’s cabinet.
• Yumnam Khemchand Singh: He was the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022. Currently, he is a Cabinet Minister for Municipal Administration Housing Development (MAHUD) and Education Department in the second Biren Singh ministry.
• Biswajit Singh: Singh is currently Minister For Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Power, Agriculture, Science & Technology.

Closed-Door Meeting

BJP’s national in-charge, Sambit Patra, recently held a closed-door meeting with key political figures in Manipur. The main challenge facing the party is selecting a leader who can unify all communities, ensuring that the new face brings together both the supporters of Chief Minister Biren Singh and his opponents. It is vital that the chosen leader has the support of both factions to maintain party cohesion. The outcome of this meeting could determine the political future of Manipur. Expert commentary suggests that the BJP is carefully considering all options to ensure stability in the region.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember:

• Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister of Manipur.
• BJP has not yet announced his successor.
• Five leading candidates are vying for the next Manipur CM position.
• Sambit Patra held a meeting with potential candidates.
• BJP needs to find a leader who can unite all communities.

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