- Advertisement -
Guwahati : Smaller parties Conard Sangma led National People's Party (NPP), Naga People's Front (NPF), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) and the lone Independent MLA have emerged as the big players in Manipur to decide who will form the next government in the state, Congress or BJP.
The ruling Congress and the BJP are both claiming victory in Manipur.
In the 60-member Manipur assembly, the Congress has again emerged as the leading political party with 28 seats, while the saffron party had captured 21 seats and the both party are now trying to manage the magic number with the help of smaller parties.
Apart from Congress and BJP, NPP and NPF had secured 4 seats each, while LJP, AITMC and Independent won one seat each.
The NPF, who is also an ally party in NDA, has already announced support for a non-Congress coalition government.
On the other hand, NPP leader Conard Sangma said that, his party will support to form a non-Congress government.
Top BJP leaders including its national general secretary Ram Madhav and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma had attended a crucial meeting with the NPP leaders in Imphal on Sunday evening, following the assembly polls results out.
Meanwhile, Manipur BJP spokesperson Nongthombam Biren said, his party will form the next government.
"Despite Congress is ahead of BJP in numerical numbers, our party will form the next ministry and working is going on to show majority," Biren said.
"People of Manipur given their mandates against corruption and all are wanting a corruption free and development oriented government in Manipur," Biren said.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who elected to the Manipur assembly for consecutive fourth term, said that, people of the state want peace and protection of territorial integrity.
After securing 28 seats, Congress has tried to rope the MLAs of AITMC, Independent MLA and LJP to retain in power.
Political analytics said that, following the results, it is indicating that the lone Independent MLA will decide actually who will form the next ministry in Manipur.
"Both Congress and BJP will try to rope the lone Independent candidate for their side," Utpal Baruah, Editor of the Assamese news daily Dainik Janambhumi said.
BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said that, his will stake claims to form the next government in the state.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
