N Biren Singh sworn in as Manipur chief minister, PM congratulates

Imphal: BJP legislature party leader N Biren Singh was Monday sworn in as the chief minister of Manipur for the second time at the Raj Bhavan here.

Singh, along with five cabinet ministers, were administered oath by Governor La Ganesan.

The five other MLAs inducted in the ministerial berth include Th Biswajit Singh, Yumnam Khemchand, Govindas Konthoujam, Nemcha Kipgen and Awangbou Newmai.

Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Kiren Rijiju had on Sunday handed over a letter to Ganesan, stating that Singh was elected unanimously as the leader of the BJP legislature party with 32 MLAs.

The governor then invited Singh to form the next government in Manipur.

Speaking to media persons, CM Biren Singh said that his government’s first task will be to make a ‘free corruption state’.

“I will work day and night to abolish corruption from the state. Secondly, I will try to wipe out any drug-related matters from the state. Thirdly, I will try to bring all the state-based insurgencies into the negotiation table,” said CM Biren Singh.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh for assuming the charge for a second straight term.

“Congratulations to Shri @NBirenSingh 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 done in the last five years,” Modi tweeted.

Singh was sworn in as chief minister for a second term on Monday. The BJP stormed back to power with a majority in the recently held assembly polls.

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