Imphal, March 4: A month after the formation of the new government in Manipur, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has allocated departments among the council of ministers. However, several key and influential departments remain under the Chief Minister’s control, with seven ministerial positions still vacant.
According to a notification issued by Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goyal, the allocation of departments was made upon the advice of Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen has been assigned the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, along with responsibilities for Tribal Affairs and the Hill Areas Department.
Meanwhile, the other Deputy Chief Minister, L. Dikho, has been given charge of the Public Health Engineering Department and the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department. Additionally, BJP legislator K. Govindas Singh has been entrusted with the Home Department and the Youth Affairs and Sports Department, while K. Lokendra Singh has been assigned the Arts and Culture and Tourism Department.
Chief Minister Biren Singh, Nemcha Kipgen, and K. Govindas Singh are affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while L. Dikho belongs to the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and K. Lokendra Singh is associated with the National People’s Party (NPP). The NPF is led by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, and the NPP is headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
In a post on the official social media platform ‘X’, the Manipur government stated that this departmental allocation is a significant step towards strengthening governance and ensuring focused leadership in key departments.
It is noteworthy that after the imposition of President’s Rule was lifted, Chief Minister Biren Singh took the oath of office on February 4, along with two Deputy Chief Ministers and two cabinet ministers. However, the cabinet has not yet been fully expanded, leaving seven ministerial positions unfilled.
The only female minister, Nemcha Kipgen, took her oath virtually from the Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi for security reasons. She is associated with the Kuki community.
According to a senior BJP leader, the cabinet expansion will “definitely” take place after the budget session of the Manipur Assembly, which is expected to occur after Holi. A one-day session of the Assembly was held on February 5, during which Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla addressed the house.
Chief Minister Biren Singh has previously emphasized that restoring peace and normalcy in the violence-affected state is a collective responsibility involving all stakeholders, including elected representatives.
The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which was suspended during President’s Rule, is set to serve until 2027. President’s Rule was imposed on February 13, 2025, just four days after the resignation of then-Chief Minister N. Biren Singh amid ethnic violence.
Meanwhile, on February 22, Chief Minister Biren Singh, along with both Deputy Chief Ministers, visited New Delhi to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. They discussed various issues, including the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons affected by ethnic violence.
According to an official from the Chief Minister’s office, the Union Home Minister reviewed the steps being taken by the state government to bridge the gaps between communities and restore peace and harmony.
During their stay in New Delhi, the Chief Minister also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Additionally, the Chief Minister and both Deputy Chief Ministers held discussions with BJP President Nitin Nabin and the party’s National General Secretary (Organization) B.L. Santosh regarding organizational and political matters.
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