Nongthombam Biren Singh was on Sunday elected as the Chief Minister of Manipur for the second time after the arrival of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju as central observers. N Birne Singh has been a football player, a BSF jawan posted on the borders of Manipur and also a journalist. Singh’s name was chosen after being unanimously elected chief minister at a legislature party meeting held at the state BJP headquarters in the state capital this afternoon.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had contested the recently concluded Manipur elections under the leadership of Biren, but until some time ago, doubts about the top post remained, as another leader Biswajit Singh was claiming the CM’s post this time. Because he is senior to Biren Singh in the party.
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A BA degree from Manipur University, Biren started his career as a footballer and joined the Border Security Force (BSF), where he played for his team in domestic competitions. He also participated in the Durand Cup tournament.
Born in Imphal on January 1, 1961, the Chief Minister of Manipur later joined journalism in 1992 and started the local daily Nahrolgi Thoudang. He worked as the editor of the newspaper till 2001.
Step into politics in 2002
Biren entered politics in 2002 and joined the Democratic Revolutionary People’s Party. He contested the assembly elections and won from Hingang seat. He was appointed Minister of State for Vigilance of Manipur in 2003 and was also given the additional portfolio of Minister of Forest and Environment.
He later joined the Indian National Congress and retained the seat in the 2007 assembly elections. Biren was then made Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control and Youth Affairs and Sports and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) of Manipur.
The Chief Minister of Manipur continued his winning streak for the third consecutive time in the 2012 assembly elections. In September 2016, he resigned from the Manipur Legislative Assembly following a rebellion against the then Chief Minister of the state, Okram Ibobi Singh.
First BJP leader to become Chief Minister in the state
Biren joined BJP in October 2016. In 2017, he contested the assembly elections from Hingang seat and won, retaining the seat for the fourth time in a row. He took oath as the Chief Minister of Manipur on March 15, 2017, becoming the first BJP leader to become the Chief Minister in the state.
Ahead of the 2022 assembly elections in Manipur, the CM said that he himself wants the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) to be repealed.
It is pertinent to note that Biren defeated Congress rival P Saratchandra Singh from his home constituency – Hingang in East Imphal district, Manipur with over 18,000 votes.
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