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BJP elects N Biren Singh as leader of legislature party, likely to be Manipur CM

Is this end of the drama in Manipur?

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N Biren Singh and BJP leaders
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On Monday, N Biren Singh was elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in Manipur and will be the party’s CM candidate, said  central observer Piyush Goyal. After being chosen as the CM-elect, N Biren Singh thanked BJP party President Amit Shah, PM  Narendra Modi and other BJP senior leaders.  He said that the BJP would give good governance to Manipur and that he had left the Congress due to 'misgovernance'. 

Earlier, Governor Najma Heptulla said that she was satisfied the BJP have support of 32 MLAs, 1 more than the magic number of 31.  She also said: “The Congress had come earlier with a letter on behalf of NPP signed by the secretary and president. I told him you can’t bring letter on behalf of NPP. She added: “Because NPP president gave me letter 1 hr ago with 4 MLAs supporting BJP, told CM first resign, he didn't say anything & went away.”  (sic)

Meanwhile, Congress’ V Moily cried foul, saying that Congress was the largest party and two short of majority. NPP’s Conrad Sangma said that the party would support the government led by the BJP.  Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said he would resign by Tuesday to facilitate the process of government formation in the state which has got a hung assembly following the just-concluded elections.

"I will resign by tomorrow to facilitate the process of government formation," he told reporters. Manipur Governor Najma Heptullah had earlier said that she could start the process of government formation once the incumbent chief minister resigned.

Singh had claimed that that he was ready for a floor test.  Ibobi Singh, however, has been arguing that with the Congress emerging as the single largest party, he should be given the first opportunity to form the government. "I am ready for a floor test and I have the numbers with me," said Singh.

The BJP sought to justify its claims to form governments in Goa and Manipur, saying it has both "legitimacy and the numbers" even as the Congress termed the attempts as a "murder" of democracy.

"We have both the legitimacy and the numbers to form the government in Goa and Manipur," BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao told Times Now news channel.In both these states, the Congress emerged as the single largest party in the assembly elections.In Goa, the Governor has already invited BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, who earlier resigned as Defence Minister, to form the government.

"We definitely have genuine numbers and allies who were a part of the BJP government in the state (Goa)," Rao said, adding, "we have four per more votes than the Congress. What else you want?"

Asserting that the legitimacy comes from the popular votes, the BJP spokesperson said, "What is more important to form a government is the legislative majority which the party has by way of support from these parties and the other additional support which would come to us by way of Manohar Parrikar being made the chief ministerial candidate." Hitting out at the BJP, the Congress said the party should be aware that governments are not formed on the basis of popular vote share.

"Parrikar did not contest polls? So how do we know that he is popular among the people? This is the murder of democracy in broad daylight," Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said. "Even in the case of Manipur, if you look at the number of seats that the Congress has got, the governor should have asked the single largest party first to try and stake claim in forming the government," she said.

The Congress also said the BJP should have  been given the chance to form the government only if the single largest party refuses to do so. Chaturvedi also accused the BJP of "kidnapping" the Independent MLAs, saying they are being kept away from exercising their right to choose the party they want to go with. "They are also trying to kidnap Independent MLAs. They are being taken to Guwahati in Assam and kept them away from going to whom they want to go with. This is a breach of democracy and democratic principles," she said. 

With inputs from PTI and ANI

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