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President’s rule revoked in Manipur after a year, new CM to be sworn in today

February 04, 2026 5 min read Polity & Governance GS2 (Indian Polity Constitutional Provisions Federalism)
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What Happened

  • President's Rule imposed in Manipur on 13 February 2025 — following the resignation of N. Biren Singh as Chief Minister amid widespread criticism of his government's handling of the ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities — was revoked on 4 February 2026 by President Droupadi Murmu.
  • BJP MLA Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a 62-year-old Meitei leader, was named the new Chief Minister. He was sworn in at 6 PM on 4 February 2026 at Lok Bhavan, Imphal.
  • Two Deputy Chief Ministers were simultaneously sworn in: BJP's Nemcha Kipgen (from the Kuki community) — making her the first woman to hold that post in Manipur — and Naga People's Front MLA Losii Dikho (from the Naga community).
  • The inclusive composition of the new government reflects an attempt to signal political accommodation across the three major ethnic communities affected by the 2023 conflict.
  • Khemchand Singh had served as the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022 during the BJP government's first term and is identified with a faction that was critical of former CM Biren Singh.
  • The revocation of President's Rule and the formation of a new elected government marks a significant constitutional moment in the Northeast, ending one year of direct Union rule.

Static Topic Bridges

Article 356 — President's Rule: Imposition and Revocation

Article 356 of the Constitution empowers the President to assume governance of a state if, on receipt of a Governor's report or otherwise, the President is satisfied that the constitutional machinery of the state has broken down. The Proclamation suspends the state executive and brings the state under direct Union government control.

  • A Proclamation under Article 356 must be placed before both Houses of Parliament and approved within two months by a simple majority.
  • Maximum duration: six months, extendable up to three years in exceptional circumstances (subject to renewed Parliamentary approval every six months after the first year, with a special majority required from the end of the first year).
  • The President can revoke such a Proclamation at any time without Parliamentary approval.
  • Article 357 further empowers Parliament to exercise the legislative powers of the state legislature during President's Rule.

Connection to this news: Manipur's President's Rule was imposed in February 2025 following the collapse of elected government and revoked exactly a year later upon successful formation of a new legislative majority — a textbook example of Article 356's operation and revocation.

S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) — Judicial Safeguards on Article 356

The S.R. Bommai case is a landmark nine-judge Constitution Bench ruling that fundamentally curtailed the misuse of Article 356. Prior to this judgment, the Centre had invoked President's Rule over 90 times — frequently against state governments led by opposition parties. The Court held that the Presidential Proclamation under Article 356 is subject to judicial review and that the floor of the state legislature — not the Governor's subjective assessment — is the proper forum to test a government's majority.

  • The judgment was delivered on 11 March 1994 by a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court.
  • It affirmed that states are not subordinate to the Centre and strengthened the principle of cooperative federalism.
  • A government cannot be dismissed if it commands a majority; majority must be tested on the floor of the House.
  • The ruling was inspired in part by the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission on Centre–State Relations (1988).

Connection to this news: The judicial safeguards from S.R. Bommai were relevant throughout Manipur's President's Rule: the Centre had to ensure the proclamation was constitutionally defensible and received Parliamentary approval within the mandated two-month window. The revocation — following the demonstration of a new majority — is consistent with Bommai principles.

Ethnic Conflict in Manipur and Centre–State Relations

The ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023 between the Meitei (valley-dominant Hindu community seeking Scheduled Tribe status) and Kuki-Zo communities (hill-dominant groups) resulted in over 250 deaths, displacement of tens of thousands, and a prolonged humanitarian crisis. The conflict exposed severe governance deficits, challenges in Centre-State coordination during internal disturbances, and the limitations of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in preventing civil conflict.

  • The crisis began on 3 May 2023 following a Tribal Solidarity March in the hill districts.
  • Over 50,000 people were displaced; internet shutdowns were maintained for extended periods.
  • The crisis raised questions about the Governor's role, the Home Ministry's oversight, and the deployment of central forces under Article 355.
  • Article 355 places a duty on the Union to protect states from internal disturbance.

Connection to this news: The formation of an ethnically inclusive Cabinet — with Meitei, Kuki, and Naga representation at the Deputy CM level — is a direct policy response to the ethnic conflict that precipitated the state's political collapse and triggered President's Rule.

Role of the Governor in State Constitutional Crises

The Governor, as the constitutional head of the state, plays a central role in the imposition and unwinding of President's Rule. Under Article 163, the Governor acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers in most matters, but is a direct agent of the Union during President's Rule. In practice, the Governor's report to the President is the trigger for imposition, and the Governor certifies the majority before a new government is sworn in.

  • During President's Rule, the Governor exercises legislative functions under Presidential direction.
  • The Governor's recommendation for President's Rule is itself subject to judicial scrutiny (post-Bommai).
  • Governors are appointed under Article 155 by the President and serve at the pleasure of the President (Article 156).

Connection to this news: The Manipur Governor played a central role in certifying the post-Rule majority and presiding over the swearing-in of the new Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers upon the revocation of President's Rule.

Key Facts & Data

  • President's Rule imposed in Manipur: 13 February 2025; revoked: 4 February 2026 (approximately one year).
  • New Chief Minister: Yumnam Khemchand Singh (BJP, Meitei community, age 62).
  • First Deputy CM: Nemcha Kipgen (BJP, Kuki community) — first woman Deputy CM in Manipur's history.
  • Second Deputy CM: Losii Dikho (Naga People's Front, Naga community).
  • Khemchand Singh served as Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly (2017–2022).
  • Manipur ethnic violence began: 3 May 2023; over 250 deaths and 50,000+ displaced.
  • Article 356 allows President's Rule for up to 3 years total with mandatory Parliamentary renewal.
  • S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) — nine-judge bench ruling protecting states from arbitrary imposition of President's Rule.
  • Article 355: Union duty to protect states against internal disturbance.