Manipur just got a Kuki deputy CM, but Kuki-Zo outfits remain furious - Here's why

Nemcha Kipgen, Kuki MLA, takes oath as dy CM

• Yumnam Khemchand Singh sworn in as Manipur's 13th Chief Minister
• Nemcha Kipgen and L Dikho appointed as deputy chief ministers
• Kuki Zo groups reject new govt, call for shutdown and warn community MLAs

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Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Manipur on Wednesday, assuming leadership alongside two deputy chief ministers - Nemcha Kipgen, a BJP MLA belonging to the Kuki community and L Dikho of the Naga People’s Front.

Took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur last evening. I am deeply grateful to the Central @BJP4India leadership for their trust and confidence in me. I will continue to serve the people with dedication, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to their welfare. pic.twitter.com/Q36OHgmoRF

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— Nemcha Kipgen (@KipgenNemcha) February 5, 2026  

Despite the inclusion of a senior Kuki representative in the state’s top leadership, powerful Kuki Zo tribal organisations immediately rejected the government, calling for a general strike and warning community legislators against participation, underscoring the deep ethnic divisions that persist after a year of violent conflict.

Singh, a 62-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from Singjamei in Imphal West district and a seasoned taekwondo master, was elected leader of the BJP legislature party on Tuesday. His appointment follows nearly twelve months of President’s Rule in a state scarred by ethnic strife.

The formation of the new government, even with Deputy Chief Minister Kipgen’s prominence, ignited immediate opposition. The Joint Forum of Seven, a tribal body based in Churachandpur district, declared a “total shutdown” in Kuki Zo-dominated areas from 6 am to 6 pm on Friday. It urged community members to join protests “in a democratic way,” reiterating the longstanding demand for a separate Kuki administration.

In a stern statement, the Kuki Zo Council warned that any community MLA who participates in the government against its collective decision does so in a purely individual capacity.

“The organisation will not be held accountable for consequences arising out of the unilateral decisions,” it stated. This warning was echoed by some Kuki militant groups, which issued strong cautions to MLAs from the community against joining the ministry.

The backlash manifested on the ground hours after the swearing-in. On Wednesday night, agitators burnt tyres and blocked roads with bamboo sticks near Leimakhong in the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district, specifically protesting Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen’s accession to office.

The protests are rooted in the ethnic violence that has engulfed Manipur since May 3, 2023. The conflict was triggered by a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts, organised in protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

The ensuing violence has claimed at least 260 lives, including those of Kuki and Meitei civilians as well as security personnel, and displaced thousands.

Chief Minister Singh, described by associates as a disciplined figure whose background in martial arts informs his political approach, now faces the formidable task of navigating this bitter divide.