On Thursday, as the major exit polls predict their results for Manipur Assembly Election, one clear takeaway is that BJP is enjoying an ascendancy in north-eastern states. The Congress party’s 15-year rule Manipur seems to be coming to an end, as exit polls forecast the BJP will likely win the 60-strong Manipur Assembly election. The CVoter exit poll predicted historic gains for the BJP in Manipur, giving them between 25 and 31 seats, while estimating that the Congress would nab between 17 and 23 seats. The CVoter’s projection about BJP’s ascendancy proves to be correct, this would be a big win for the party which may still fall short of the magic figure of 31. The same party had failed to open its accounts in the 2012 elections. However to form government in the state, the saffron unit might need the support of Naga People’s Front (NPF). Though BJP chose contest solo in the polls and contest in all 60 seats, the party may just seek NPF help in forming a government and achieve the magic number of 31. [caption id=“attachment_3328124” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Representational image. PTI[/caption] CVoter predictions for Manipur, based on a sample size of 1330, predicting a 36 percent positive swing in vote share compared to 2012 figures. According to the agency, while BJP may witness 33.6 per cent swing in its favour, Congress votes will witness a 12.9 per cent erosion. BJP’s positive swing is likely to come at the expense of other politics parties whose combined vote share will go down by 20.6 per cent, according to CVoter. Region wise, the BJP is expected to have swept Outer Manipur and the New Districts, and its inroads in the Inner Manipur constituencies has clearly cut into the Congress’ seat share. However the India Today - Axis My India poll estimates that the Congress will win 30 to 36 seats in Manipur and the BJP would win between 16 and 22 seats. Today’s Chanakya exit poll gives the Congress 15 seats. The Manipur Assembly term ends on 18 March. Twenty seats have been reserved for SC/ST aspirants.
Manipur as it happened: Biren Singh, council of ministers to take oath on Wednesday; Amit Shah to attend
On Thursday, as the major exit polls predict their results for Manipur Assembly Election, one clear takeaway is that BJP is enjoying an ascendancy in north-eastern states.
)
Manipur’s CM-designate, Biren Singh has an uphill task of maintaining peace between hills and valley
Even as Nongthongbam Biren Singh heads to be the first BJP chief minister in Manipur, he has an uphill task of chalking out a mutually acceptable path of existence for all the ethnic identities in the conflict ridden state.
Nazma Heptullah, the Governor of Manipur, has invited the BJP to prove it’s strength on the floor after the saffron party handed her a list of 32 MLAs supporting N. Biren Singh’s candidature as the chief minister.
The saffron party takes charge of Manipur at a time when the state is torn by a long dwelling ethnic tension that resulted in an economic blockade which is more than four months old now. Though N. Biren Singh who is known as a man who dons many hats seems to be the right choice for the post, but the historic nature of the issue is likely to take more than the personal effort of the chief minister.
Read the prime issues those the N. Biren Singh’s government is likely to face, here
Naga MLAs demand ministerial berths to back BJP government in Manipur
Imphal: Nongthombam Biren, who is tipped to be the first BJP chief minister of Manipur, faces an unforeseen road block with the four Naga People’s Front MLAs now demanding ministerial berths.
The four have also demanded similar berths for four other Naga MLAs with important portfolios.
On Monday, the Manipur unit NPF president Awangbung Newmai wrote an official letter to the BJP president in Manipur listing the demands.
It said: “As per resolutions of the 13 March meeting of the Manipur unit of the NPF its four MLAs should be inducted in the council of ministers.”
Read full article here
N. Biren Singh to be sworn in as new chief minister of Manipur on Wednesday (15 March) at 1 pm
Biren Singh to be sworn-in as first BJP chief minister in state
Imphal: Nongthombam Biren, who was elected leader of BJP Manipur legislature wing on Monday, will be sworn in as the 24th chief minister of Manipur on Wednesday. Biren Singh, MLA from Heingang constituency, will be the first BJP chief minister in the state.
Manipur Governor Dr Najima Heptulla will administer oath of office and secrecy to Biren Singh at Rajbhavan Imphal, said a BJP source.
Nongthombam Biren Singh was, on Monday, elected as the legislature party leader of BJP Manipur. He met the Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla in the evening to stake claim to form the government. He was unanimously elected leader of legislature wing in the presence of BJP central observer and union power minister Piyush Goel, union HRD minister and election in-charge of Manipur, Prakash Javadekar, MP and BJP North-East in charge, Prahlad Singh Patel.
Read full story here
Biren Singh to be BJP’s chief ministerial candidate
Congress calls governor ‘incompetent’
Meeting underway of the BJP top brass in Imphal
Biren Singh elected leader of legislative wing
Elected MLAs to meet governor soon
At a meeting of senior BJP leaders, MLA Biren Singh has been elected leader of the legislature party head. Biren was unanimously elected leader after a four-hour deliberation, also attended by Union minister Prakash Javadekar, BJP national secretary Ajay Jamwal, and other heavyweights. The elected MLAs will meet Manipur Governor soon, to stake a claim for government formation.
Biren Singh, BJP’s Manipur legislature party head, to meet governor
Okram Ibobi Singh to resign
ANI reported that Okram Ibobi Singh will tender his resignation on Monday evening or Tuesday.
NPP leader makes explosive allegation
ANI reported that NPP leader Conrad Sangma has alleged that the Congress’ letter to Governor claiming National People’s Party’s (NPP) support was fake
Will Manipur CM Ibobi Singh stay or go?
Willl he or won’t he? That seems to be the question. While NDTV reported that Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has refused to resign and claimed that his party had a majority, CNN-News 18 reported that Singh will quit on Tuesday.
Manipur CM Ibobi Singh set to resign, sources say
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is set to resign after he failed to muster the required numbers to form a Congress government. Governor Najma Heptulla has asked him to step down, and the BJP is now set to form the government, informed sources said on Monday.
Though the Congress claims it enjoys the supports of the four National People’s Party MLAs, Vivekraj Wangkhem of the NPP maintained his party is supporting the BJP to form government.
“Our party and elected members have extended support to the BJP in the formation of the ministry,” he said.
Wangkhem also said that the party’s earlier written assurance to the Congress is invalidated.
Manipur governor slams Ibobi, asks him to resign
CNN-News18 reported that Manipur Governor Najma Heptullah has slammed Manipur Chief Minister Okram Singh Ibobi, saying that she had asked him for his resignation and was waiting for him to resign.
The governor added that the BJP had submitted a list of 32 MLAs to form the government.
BJP meet underway
A BJP meeting to determine who will lead the party legislature is underway at Classic Grande hotel, at Chingmeirong, Imphal.
The two top contenders for the post include N Biren Singh elected from Heingang Assembly seat and T Biswajit Singh from Thongju Assembly seat.
Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar arrives in Imphal
Javadekar arrived in Imphal on Monday to attend the crucial BJP meet to determine who will lead its legislature wing. Speaking to Firstpost, said the BJP will definitely form the government and deliver the promises to the people the party made.
BJP claims support of 32 MLAs to form govt
The BJP in Manipur on Sunday night claimed to have secured the support of 32 MLAs after getting the backing of NDA constituent parties and two other MLAs, and said it would elect the legislature party leader on Monday.
BJP has its own 21 MLAs and secured support of 11 others adding up to 32 legislators. 31 are needed to form government in the 60-member Assembly, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said after meeting Governor Najma Heptullah.
Biswa Sarma said the legislature party leader would be elected on Monday.
Shyamkumar, one of the 28 Congress MLAs who won from Andro constituency, and the lone All India Trinamool Congress legislator Robindro joined the BJP taking the party’s numbers to 32, Sarma said.
CM Ibobi Singh asks guv to invite Cong to form govt, accuses BJP of having no principles
In a late night press conference Sunday, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said that he has requested Manipur Governor Najma Heptullah to invite the Congress to form the government in the state as they were the single largest party.
“I went to the Raj Bhavan, met the governor and urged her to give the Congress the first chance to show strength on the floor of the House because the Congress is single largest party. I am hoping that governor will do justice,“he said on Sunday.
Calling the BJP opportunistic, Ibobi Singh said that the BJP had categorically denied tie-ups with the Naga People’s Front ahead of the Assembly elections.
“The BJP has no principles. Before the election, they announced no ties with NPF. Now they are saying they are tying up with NPF. The people of Manipur will never accept ties with a party that is hell-bent on breaking up Manipur,” he said.
Congress accuses BJP of subverting democracy; Chidambaram says party stealing polls
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the BJP for allegedly subverting democracy and making a backdoor entry to power in Manipur and Goa. He charged the saffron party of stealing the elections in these states which threw a hung Assembly.
More defections to BJP likely
Tensions are running high within the Congress after the defection by Shyamkumar Singh. Eighteen more Congress MLAs are likely to defect to the BJP
BJP MLAs and supporting MLAs meet Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla, stake claim to form govt
Congress MLA defects to BJP
Congress MLA Shyamkumar Singh from Andro Asembly constituency defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday evening, ANI reported.