Biren Singh sworn in as Manipur CM

Imphal: N Biren Singh was sworn in as the chief minister of the first-ever BJP-led government in Manipur on Wednesday after the Assembly election threw up a hung house.

Governor Najma Heptulla administered the oath of office and secrecy to Singh at a function in Raj Bhavan here.

Eight other ministers from the BJP and its alliance partners also took oath along with the chief minister. Y Joykumar of NPP has been designated as the deputy chief minister.

The other ministers are Biswajit Singh of BJP, L Jayantakumar Singh, L Haokip and N Kayisii of National People's Party, L Dikho of Naga People's Front and Karam Shyam of LJP.

Shyamkumar, a Congress MLA who defected to the BJP, was also sworn in.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were present at the swearing-in ceremony among others.

Outgoing chief minister Ibobi Singh was also present.

BJP president Amit Shah and union minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who were scheduled to attend the function, could not arrive here as the aircraft they were traveling in suffered an engine problem mid-air prompting the pilot to return to Delhi.

Heptulla had invited Biren Singh, who was unanimously elected the leader of the 21-member BJP Legislature Party, to form the government Tuesday.

The BJP has claimed the support of 32 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly.