India, Feb. 5 -- Former Manipur speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday took oath as the chief minister of the strife-torn state, becoming the first person to helm the northeastern state since President's Rule was clamped in 2025 after two years of ethnic violence.

Along with Singh, two deputy chief ministers from the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities also took oath in a low-key ceremony at the Lok Bhavan in Imphal. Hours before the event, President's Rule was withdrawn after almost 12 months from the state where nearly 260 people have died and another 60,000 displaced in ethnic clashes since 2023.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 62-year-old two-timelegislator who hails from the dominant Meit...