Drama in Manipur Assembly to end today: BJP likely to stake claim, Congress keeps the hope alive

After a hectic political game on Sunday, BJP claimed to secured 11 additional seats to its 21 to gain a majority in Manipur and form a government.

The BJP in Manipur on Sunday 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 the 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.

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In high-octane drama in late in the night, a fake letter surfaced which claimed that the National Peoples Party with 4 seats took a u-turn and extended support to Congress, changing the equation to back in the favour of Congress. The letter indicated that the incumbent Congress won 28 seats of its own and with 4 seats of NPP, it can reach the magical figure of 32, leaving BJP with just 28. However, it was later proved that the letter was not authenticate. 

Earlier in the day, a delegation of BJP and parties supporting it called on the Governor but it was not clear what transpired in the meeting.

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.

Manipur on Sunday threw up a hung assembly with the ruling Congress bagging 28 of the 60 seats and the BJP winning 21.

(With Inputs from PTI)

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Fake letter which claimed that NPP has extended support to Congress, instead of BJP