Manipur's Nipamacha Singh has been called the 'eternal survivor'. Following his second term as the state's chief minister, 70-year-old Nipamacha Singh emerged as one of its most enduring politicians. The chief minister, considered a 'stopgap' arrangement when he first came to power in December 1997, began his second innings after the assembly elections left behind a fuzzy verdict, by cobbling together a rag-tag United Front coalition, made up of 39 members in a 60-member legislative assembly.

Since March, however, Singh has had to cope with an empty exchequer and opponents eyeing his chair. To counter dissident activity, Singh inducted a jumbo-sized cabinet of 34 members, allowing them almost complete independence in the handling of their ministries. It is this hands-off attitude that has landed the state in its deepest financial crisis.