N Biren Singh sworn in Chief Minister of Manipur for second term

Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 21(EMN): After days of speculations, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s legislature leader N Biren Singh was sworn in as the chief minister of Manipur for the second term at Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Monday.

Governor La Ganesan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Biren Singh at the well-decorated lawn of Raj Bhavan in Imphal around 2.20 pm.

The day’s swearing-in ceremony was held at the Raj Bhavan’s lawn after more than three decades.

It was held a day after the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman-led party leaders including the caretaker chief minister Biren Singh, senior BJP MLA Th Biswajit Singh and former Speaker Yumnam Khemchand met the Governor and staked claim to form a new government in the state.

Along with Biren Singh, five other MLAs — four from BJP and one from Naga People’s Front (NPF) – were also sworn in as members of the council of ministers on the day. The five MLAs are Thongam Biswajit (Thongju), Yumnam Khemchand (Singjamei), Govindas Konthoujam (Bishnupur), Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi), all BJP legislators, and Awangbow Newmai (Tamei) of NPF.

BJP National president JP Nadda, Assam CM Himanta Biswas Sarma, Tripura CM Biplap Kumar Dev, Deputy CM of Nagaland Y Patton, former state CM and senior congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh, Manipur’s Lok Sabha MP Lorho S Pfoze, and newly elected MLAs of BJP, Janata Dal(United), Congress, NPF, Kuki People’s Alliance(KPA), and top officials of state were also present during the swearing-in ceremony.

Speaking to media persons after the swearing-in Ceremony, Biren Singh said he would work day and night to abolish corruption from the state.

On the second and the third priorities, he said that he would try to watch out for any kind of drug- related matter from the state, while steps would be taken up to bring the insurgents into the negotiating table for political dialogue.

While thanking the party legislators for electing him as legislature leader, he lauded the relentless efforts of the party’s national leaders in forming the government. He also thanked the people of the state for their support.

Many including Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Biren Singh on being sworn in as Chief Minister for the 2nd consecutive terms. In a tweet on Monday, PM Narendra Modi wrote: “Congratulations to N Biren Singh Ji on being sworn in as the chief minister of Manipur. I am confident his team and he would take Manipur to newer heights of progress and continue the good work down in the last five years.”

 In the recently concluded assembly elections, BJP got absolute majority by winning 32 of the 60 seats, while National People’s Party won seven seats, followed by JD(U) six, five seats each by Congress and NPF, two seats by Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) and three by Independent MLAs.

With the induction of NPF, which has five legislators, BJP government in Manipur is supported by 47 legislators in the 60-member house. Earlier, JD(U), KPA and 2 Independent legislators had extended support to the BJP.