Governor Ajay Bhalla names retired Army officer Lt Gen L. Nishikanta Singh as Advisor (Coordination) to the Chief Minister following cabinet approval.
By NIRENDRA DEV
Guwahati, February 20, 2026 — In a significant administrative move, the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Bhalla, has appointed Lt Gen (Retd.) L. Nishikanta Singh as Advisor (Coordination) to the Chief Minister of Manipur.
The Manipur CM Advisor appointment of Lt Gen (Retd.) L. Nishikanta Singh comes at a crucial time as the state transitions from President’s Rule to an elected government.
The appointment follows a decision taken at the Cabinet meeting held on February 17, 2026. According to an official order, Singh will serve in the advisory role for a period of one year. The order takes effect immediately and has been issued “in public interest.”
The terms and conditions of his service — including honorarium and other entitlements — will be finalised separately in consultation with the Finance Department (PIC), Government of Manipur, sources said.
The development comes shortly after the installation of the ministry led by Y Khemchand, marking the end of President’s Rule that had been imposed in the state since February 13, 2025.
The appointment is seen as part of efforts to strengthen coordination and administrative stability in a state that has witnessed prolonged unrest since 2023.
Meanwhile, political and community circles are mourning the passing of Vungzagin Valte, BJP MLA from Thanlon Assembly Constituency representing the Zomi community. He passed away at Medanta Medicity, according to community sources.
Valte had been critically injured during the violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023. His death has once again brought attention to the lingering scars of the conflict that shook the state.
With a new ministry in place and a senior retired Army officer stepping into an advisory role, the government appears keen to project administrative continuity and coordination amid a fragile recovery phase.
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