BJP gets support of 32 MLAs in Manipur

Team Udayavani, Mar 13, 2017, 9:40 AM IST

Imphal: 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.

The BJP has its own 21 MLAs and secured support of 11 others adding up to 32 legislators. 31 are needed to form the government in the 60-member Assembly, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said after meeting Governor Najma Heptullah.

A delegation of BJP and parties supporting it called on the governor, but it was not clear what transpired. 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.

Asked about application of the anti-defection law against Shyamkumar, Biswa Sarma said they have kept that in mind.

Earlier, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said, “We have been able to come to an understanding with the NPP and LJP in our bid to form the government in Manipur.”
The NPP won 4 seats and the LGP 1.

NPP and LJP representatives were present along with their winning candidates in Madhav’s press conference.

Madhav said that the party also has an “understanding” with another NDA partner Naga People’s Front which has won four seats.

So, after the support of the NPP, NPF, LJP, Trinamool Congress and the Congress’ one MLA, the BJP has support of 32 MLAs including its own 21. Madhav said that on Saturday, the NPF had issued a press statement wherein it said it was willing to form a non-Congress government in Manipur.

The NPP’s Conrad Sangma said that the popular verdict was for a change in Manipur.
On being asked who would be the chief minister in the event of the BJP forming a coalition government, Madhav said the party leadership would decide soon.