Nongthombam Biren Singh

Nongthombam Biren Singh is the first chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Manipur, India. He made history by leading the BJP to its first victory in the state assembly elections in 2017 and was re-elected in 2022. A former footballer and journalist, Singh began his political career in the early 2000s with the Congress party before switching to the BJP in 2016. His tenure saw significant initiatives focused on infrastructure, digital governance, and community engagement through programs aimed at improving accessibility in remote areas. However, his leadership faced severe challenges due to ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities that erupted in May 2023, ultimately leading to his resignation amid increasing pressure from opposition parties.