Nongthombam Biren Singh Biography

About

Nongthombam Biren Singh is a former footballer and journalist and currently the chief minister of Manipur.

He started his career as a footballer and was recruited in the Border Security Force (BSF), where he played in its team, though in domestic competitions. He stepped down from his position in BSF and joined journalism. In 1992, he started a vernacular daily Naharolgi Thoudang and worked as its editor till 2001.

In 2002, he turned to politics and joined the Democratic Revolutionary Peoples Party where he won the assembly elections from Heingang. In 2007, he retained the seat and contested with an Indian National Congress ticket after joining the party. He was serving the party as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. He quit the party in 2016 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. He retained his seat from Heingang again in 2017 and was elected as the chief minister of the state.

Political Career

Singh was elected as the Democratic Revolutionary Peoples Party candidate in the constituency Heingang in 2002. Later he joined the Indian National Congress.

He was appointed as Minister of State of Vigilance in the Manipur state government in 2003. He retained his Assembly seat in 2007 and contested on behalf of the Indian National Congress. Later he was appointed in the state government as the Minister of Irrigation & Flood Control and Youth Affairs & Sports. For the third consecutive term, he retained his Assembly seat in 2012.

Singh stated in September 2015 that the recently passed bill in the Manipur Legislative Assembly to protect the indigenous people in the state will not be harmful for any community.
Singh stepped down from the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee in 2016.

On 17 October 2016, Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and became the Spokesperson and Co-convener of BJP Manipur Pradesh’s Election Management Committee.

Singh was elected as leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Manipur in March 2017. On 15 March 2017, he became the Chief Minister of Manipur.

Personal Life

Singh was born on 1 January 1961 in east Imphal, Manipur. He is married to Heiyainu Devi, and the couple has three children.