New Delhi, Feb. 4 -- Former Manipur speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh is set to be the next chief minister of the strife-torn state after the 62-year-old Meitei leader was appointed as the legislative party leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday.

Singh's election came at a meeting of BJP lawmakers in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. The party has 37 lawmakers in the 60-member assembly and is capable of forming the government on its own. To be sure, 10 of the 37 legislators are Kuki-Zo and at least five of them attended the meeting.

People aware of discussions said that controversial former chief minister Biren Singh will not be given any ministerial role or post in the new cabinet, which is likely to have two deputy chief ministers -...