Expansion after election

Free Thinker *

CM Khemchand meets Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on February 23 2026 :: Pix - CM Secretariat

Shri Khemchand, the not so new Chief Minister of Manipur wanted to expand his Ministry; it seems he has not got the permission from the Party High Command to do the needful. Perhaps he has been asked to continue as it is. In a way it is a blessing in disguise - all the departments for all practical purposes are with the Chief Minister - except those given away to his four Ministers.

Since Statehood Shri Khemchand is the most powerful CM of the State as he is having nearly 25 portfolios alone. Moreover, he is supported by two Deputy Chief Ministers-one from the Naga community another from the Kuki-Thadou community. In fact, he is the only CM in the State who has had two Deputy CMs.

The top brass asked him how many MLAs he has ? His straight forward reply was – “Sir, I am alone”. His reply made the High Command pleasantly amused - "Sir, as long as I am having your blessings, I don't think I need the support of the legislators - your wish is their Command".

It was reliably learnt that Shri Bhalla His Excellency the Governor has been approached by the incumbent Chief Minister for the expansion of his Cabinet. Raj Bhavan made it very clear that CM has the Constitutional Right to expand the Ministry upto the Constitutionally mandated number (91st Constitution Amendment).

However, the CM was prudently advised to get the green signal from the High Command for the required expansion. Constitutionally CM can still induct 7 more Ministers in his Government.

Yet, some MLAs have been putting pressure on him that his Ministry be expanded before it is too late. If Ministers are inducted today, at least they can function as Minister till the election. If the elections are held in time - they still have at least for 6/7 months to enjoy. Seven months time for a Minister is good enough to do some powerful manoeuvring to win the next election.

Still thousands are in the relief camps. However, due to the unending efforts of the Government, local leaders and NGOs, nearly fifty percent of the displaced people living in the relief camps have been rehabilitated or shifted to safer places.

The remaining people in the camps will also be rehabilitated within a few months from now - hopefully before the next State election. It is reliably learnt that the Centre is releasing soon an additional fund for the relief and rehabilitation of the IDPs.

Next year State elections are lined up for 7 States- namely, Manipur, Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand. Election in Manipur is due in March along with States like Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Goa.

Most likely the election of these States may be held together. Some political pundits are speculating that the election of these States may be held a bit early- in December 2026. I can’t subscribe to this view.

As far as my speculation goes, the Manipur election will be held as per schedule. And most likely it may be clubbed together with other State elections. May be in March , after the presentation of the Union Budget 2027. The Government at the Centre may not like to ignore the significance of presenting the Union Budget before the poll notification is issued.

BJP Party reorganisation process is still on; there will be many changes at the Centre as well as in the States. In Manipur too, there will be changes in the Party organization - a new Party President will soon be elected and along with him a new team will come up. Speculations are roaming around for the last few weeks about the new President.

Nobody knows who will be the next BJP Party President in Manipur. According to a very, very reliable source the new President will be a male; and certainly not from Congress.

Again, the Modi Government’s reshuffling/expansion was delayed by the cockroaches. Pradhan ji will be either given Petroleum again or be brought in the Party organization. We have to see; Pradhan is an important person in the Party ; he knows so many secrets; so, he can't be ignored.

One of the contenders of the BJP Party President asked the Party Organization in-charge HQ when it is likely to announce the new President of BJP Manipur ? HQ man told him, he has no idea, but it may happen any time during this Holy month of Shravan.

Khemchand ji is a lucky man rather a blessed politician. He never asked for CMship but he got it by default. The only reason for handing this responsibility to him was that he kept in touch with almost all the NDA MLAs including the pariahs.

I won't be surprised if he is made the Party Chief too - an exception to ' one man, one post' (Nadda ji was also an exception for quite long) - in order to stabilize his position and consolidate Part's strength before the election.