Imphal: The BJP, which won 19 seats and led in 12 others in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, was heading for a return to power in the state for the second consecutive term.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s estranged ally Naga People’s Front (NPF), which won and was leading in five seats, indicated support for the saffron party in forming the government.
As per the Election Commission’s result and latest trends, BJP’s other estranged ally National People’s Front (NPF) and Janata Dal (United) secured and leading in nine and six seats respectively, two independent candidates won their seats while another is leading and Kuki People’s Alliance, a local party, won two seats.
The main opposition Congress, which had become the single largest party in the 2017 assembly polls by securing 28 seats, won only four seats. Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who won from his traditional seat Heingang for the record 5th time, told the media that the BJP would form the government with the support of the smaller parties.
“In consultation with the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), Home Minister (Amit Shah) and National party President (J P Nadda), the strategies and decision to make a coalition government would be decided,” the Chief Minister told the media after offering puja to Shri Shri Govindaji Temple accompanied by BJP’s National Spokesman Sambit Patra.
BJP’s estranged ally NPP, which had won four seats five years ago, won and led in nine seats this time. This time, the NPP and BJP’s other estranged ally NPF had contested the polls separately and had fielded candidates against each other.
Among the notable candidates, former ministers and BJP nominees Thokchom Radheshyam Singh (Heirok), Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi) won their seats.
