IMPHAL: A day after he was elected BJP legislature wing leader, Nongthombam Biren Singh was sworn in as Manipur’s chief minister for a straight second term on Monday afternoon.
Five MLAs — Thongam Biswajit Singh, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Govindas Konthoujam and Nemcha Kipgen of the saffron party, and Manipur NPF president Awangbow Newmai — were also sworn in.
Governor La Ganesan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Biren and five others in succession at a majestic function held this time on the lawns of Imphal Raj Bhavan. The previous ceremonies were held at the Bhavan’s Durbar hall.
BJP national president JP Nadda, Assam CM Himanta Biswas Sarma, Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb, other leaders of different parties, newly elected legislators, including Congress strongman and former CM Okram Ibobi Singh and senior officials attended the ceremony.
Talking to reporters after taking oath, Biren said his new government’s first priority is to make Manipur a corruption-free state. He said his government’s second priority is to fight against drugs and its menace, and third is to bring a permanent solution to insurgency in the state by holding dialogues across the table.
BJP swept the recently held Manipur assembly polls, winning 32 seats in the 60-member house.