BJP stakes claim to form new government in Manipur
BJP has secured the support of 32 MLAs after getting the backing of NDA and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) allied parties and two other legislators.
Meanwhile, Manipur governor, Najma Hetullah, has asked incumbent Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh of Congress to submit his resignation immediately.
The governor asked Ibobi to submit his resignation for starting the process of new government formation.
A highly placed source said that the Manipur governor met the incumbent CM in a meeting held at Rajbhawan on Sunday night along with his deputy Gaikhamgam and state Congress president TN Haokip.
The source further said that Ibobi Singh and Congress had staked claim for the next ministry by showing a list of 38 Congress MLAs and also showing the names of four National People's Party (NPP) MLAs in an ordinary piece of paper, claiming to have support from these MLAs.
"But the governor rejected Ibobi's claim after seeing the ordinary piece of paper and asked his to resign immediately," the source said.
On the other hand, BJP has started the process of forming the next government.
The saffron party has 21 MLAs of its own and secured support of 11 others including 4 MLAs each of Naga People's Front (NPF), NPP and one legislator of LJP.
Assam finance minister and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a Congress MLA and the lone MLA of AITC had joined BJP taking the party number to 32.
BJP needs 31 MLAs to form the government in the 60-member Manipur assembly.
After securing the support of 32 MLAs, a delegation team consisting of BJP and its allies met Manipur governor Najma Heptullah and staked their claim to form the next ministry.
Himanta Biswa Sarma further said that the legislature party leader would be elected on Monday.
On Sunday, the political drama in Manipur got a new twist after Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh, one of the 28 Congress legislators, who won from the Adro constituency and the lone AITC MLA Tongbram Robindro joined the BJP.
Sources said that apart from Shyamkumar, 19 others Congress MLAs are likely to join the BJP within a short period.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Image: Himanta Biswa Sarma
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