Nongthombam Biren Singh: A Decade and a Half at the Helm of Manipur Born January 1, 1961, Nongthombam Biren Singh's journey from footballer and journalist to Chief Minister of Manipur spans over two decades. His political career began in 2002, winning the Heingang Assembly constituency on a Democratic Revolutionary Peoples Party ticket. He shifted to the Indian National Congress in 2003, retaining his seat in 2007 while serving as Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. A move to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2016 proved pivotal. He secured his Heingang seat again in 2017 and became Chief Minister, leading a coalition government. His leadership saw the BJP's seat share in the Manipur Assembly rise significantly from 21 in 2017 to 32 in 2022, despite navigating various political challenges. His tenure also witnessed the recent outbreak of violence in Manipur, a defining event of his leadership. Singh's political achievements include his role as Chairman of the Shri Shri Govindaji Temple Board and, notably, as the first incumbent Chief Minister to also preside over the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board since 2021. He was awarded the Champions of Change award in 2018. He resigned as Chief Minister on February 9, 2025, subsequently serving as caretaker Chief Minister until his successor's appointment. His long tenure and consistent electoral victories highlight his political influence in Manipur.