A BJP spokesman said that discussion on formation of a BJP-led government will be held with its Central leaders of the party including Prakash Javadekar who is the election in-charge of the party for Manipur will be arriving in Imphal tomorrow. And the Congress has every reason to be wary of such politics in Manipur, where it needs the support of just three more MLAs to form government, while the BJP needs 10 more.
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Congress sources said Ibobi was in touch with the National People’s Party.
Parrikar had said on Saturday, “In the situation of a fractured mandate, everyone is in the race to form the government”.
In Uttarakhand, BJP has a huge lead, ahead with 52. “We are already in talks with like-minded secular and regional parties”, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Haokip was quoted as saying by PTI.
The state Congress leadership, however, has blamed the “false promises of the BJP” and militant outfit NSCN (IM) for its poor performance. State BJP president BS Yeddyurappa told Bangalore Mirror that the victory was a boost for the party.
Parrikar added that the BJP has grown in Goa and has the capacity to rise from the existing number of 13 legislators to ultimate majority in the elections to come. In total, Manipur had more than 20 seats where one or more candidates could garner less than 100 votes.
Prominent losers in Manipur elections include Revenue and Forest Minister I Hemochandra, Education Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, Rural Development Minister M Okendro and former Congress Minister and National Peoples Party candidate Phungzathang Tonsing, who all lost to their rival BJP candidates in Singjamei, Mayang Imphal, Heirok and Churachandpur. Even Mumbai Bookies have predicted similar results with 150 seats to BJP, 130 seats to SP+Congress and 90 to BSP.
BJP, which had a pre-poll alliance in 2012, is going it alone this time after the MGP snapped the partnership and forged a front with Goa Suraksha Manch floated by RSS rebel Subhas Velingkar and Shiv Sena. Seemingly relieved with the Congress becoming the single largest party after a ding dong battle with the BJP, Okram Ibobi said: “People have appreciated the developmental works of the last 15 years”.
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Considering all of that and the current mood on the ground, it would be safe to say that at a macro-level, the Congress clearly has an edge.
