Imphal: The ruling Congress finished as the single-largest party, but three short of a majority in a hung Manipur assembly on Saturday, with the BJP, for the first time, emerging the second largest outfit in the northeastern state where smaller parties and an independent lawmaker now held the key to government formation.
The National People's Party and the Naga People's Front (NPF) have won four seats each, while the Lok Janshakti Party and the Trinamool Congress got one apiece. An Independent candidate has also emerged victorious.
The results set rolling covert and over negotiations and confabulations as the two major parties looked to take their support among lawmakers to 31 to secure a majority.
Manipur state Congress chief T.N. Haokip exuded confidence about forming the next government, saying his party had begun discussions with "like minded secular and regional parties".
In the ten hill districts, where the Congress is comparatively weak, the BJP and the NPF battled it out for the 20 seats, with the BJP coming up trumps.
Ibobi, who spearheaded the Congress campaign in the run up to the elections, also led its winners' list by retaining the prestigious Thoubal seat defeating rights activist and People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance party nominee Irom Sharmila, who got fewer than 100 votes.
Another prominent Congress winner was state minister Akoijam Mirabai from Patsoi.
Another prominent BJP loser was former director of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences L. Fimate in border constituency, Tipaimukh.
Seemingly relieved with the Congress becoming the single largest party after a ding dong battle with the BJP, Okram Ibobi said: "People have appreciated the developmental works of the last 15 years. They want peace stability,progress and protection of territorial integrity."
However, BJP's Nimaichand Luwang, who was humbled at the hustings, accused the Congress of using money and criminals.
Comments
0 comment