Trained under a government-supported programme in 2004, a tribal artisan duo has devoted their lives to the rare craft that others abandoned due to low returns. Niroj Ranjan Misra gets amazed at their craftsmanship
Yumnam Khemchand Singh, former Speaker and a Minister in the erstwhile Biren Singh government, is the new Chief Minister of Manipur, where President’s Rule was revoked after almost one year. Kuki BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen also took the oath as Manipur Deputy Chief Minister virtually besides Naga People's Front (NPF) MLA Losii Dikho in the same capacity. BJP's Govindas Konthoujam and K Loken Singh of the National People's Party (NPP) took oath as ministers. The CM’s post had been vacant since N Biren Singh resigned on February 9, 2025. The Meitei-Kuki combination is to maintain balance in the ethnically divided State.The State has been hit hard by continuing ethnic clashes between the Kuki-Zo and Metei communities that erupted on May 3, 2023 over the issue of proposed reservation to the latter. In the Manipur assembly, BJP has 37 MLAs, supported by its allies Naga People’s Front’s five and JD(U)’s lone legislator. Opposition holds 16 seats, comprising National People’s Party (6), Congress (5), independents (3), and two from KPA.
