By: WAHENGBAM RORRKYCHAND
Imphal, March 12: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to form its first government in Manipur with the support of other NDA alliances. It was informed by Ram Madhav, National General Secretary of BJP and In-charge of Northeast States after a close-door meeting with the newly elected MLAs of the party here today at Classic Grande here at around 9AM. The meeting was attended by BJP leaders including Th Chaoba, Convenor of BJP Manipur Pradesh Election Management Committee; Prahlad Singh Patel, MP (Lok Sabha) and party In-charge of BJP Manipur Pradesh. After the meeting, Ram Madhav said that “This state has given a mandate against the Ibobi Singh’s government and Congress party; for all those parties, who have secured votes, have an obligation to the people; and hope that they will come together and allow us to form the government.” “We have the support of some groups already, but we are hoping to get support of other groups also so it will get the required numbers to form the government” Madhav, who is in the state capital since Thursday evening. He also said that “the picture (who will form the government) will be cleared by this evening.” Election In-charge of BJP, Manipur Pradesh, Prakash Javadekar, who is also Union HRD and other senior leaders of the party are expecting to arrive at Imphal today afternoon. Soon after their arrival they would hold a meeting with BJP MLAs and MLAs of other parties belonging to NPP, NPF, LJP and AITC today evening. Who will be the Chief Minister? Out of the 60-seats legislative assemblies, Indian National Congress (INC) secured highest number of seats-28, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 21 seats; its allies at the Center Naga Peoples Front and National People’s Party have won 4 seats each. Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP), All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and Independent secured 1 seat each. One of the elected MLA of BJP (on condition of anonymity), who attended the meeting informed this reporter that the NPF is not in favour of the name proposed by BJP for Chief Ministerial post of the first BJP-led government in Manipur. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi Singh has convened a meeting for Congress Legislative Party (CLP) from today morning. Newly elected legislatures of the party and leaders of the party including Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, TN Haokip, Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam; RK Imo, MLA and General Secretary of MPCC were also attended at the meeting. The present scenario The NPF has already expressed its stand to get rid of Congress party from the Northeastern states and pledges support to any non-Congress coalition government in Manipur, while the LJP Chief Ram Vilas Paswan, has also said that his party will support BJP in Manipur to form government. With this development, the BJP and its allies have reached 26 and short of needs 5 MLAs to stake its claim in Manipur. While, the Congress falls short of only 3 seats to magic number to form government.
