After suffering an unexpected reversal in the Manipur assembly elections where she was a first time candidate, Irom Sharmila has chose to quit politics, according to a report by Esha Roy in The Indian Express. While the Congress needs just three MLAs to stake claim to power, the BJP needs at least 10 MLAs. Manipur state Congress chief T.N. Haokip exuded confidence about forming the next government, saying his party had begun discussions with “like minded secular and regional parties”. “Let us not discuss here, as we said let our meeting get over”, he said, adding with a smile, “this is a not the Congress”. In the Kumaun region, the Congress is projected to get 41.8 per cent of the vote share, while the BJP will get 38 per cent.
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Madhav, the man behind the BJP’s turnaround in Manipur and Assam previous year, said all political parties which have secured votes have an obligation toward the people. The two have worked tirelessly to increase BJP’s support base in Manipur.
The NPF, who is also an ally party in NDA, has already announced support for a non-Congress coalition government.
Congress has come up to be the single largest party, though short of eight seats to have a simple majority.
The official said that the first phase polling, held on March 4 in 38 seats, recorded 86 per cent turnout.
Powered by Modi’s aggressive campaign BJP candidates are on a winning course in 306 of the 403 constituencies as counting of votes progressed across the state.
Nagaland Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu said in Kohima that his NPF, which has four legislators, would support the BJP.
Manipur this time is billed as a major test for the 15-year-old Congress regime which is facing a stiff challenge from the BJP.
A look at the final tally of Manipur election results shows that there are more than one key player.
Punjab is now governed by the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) combine that has been in power since 2007. The exit poll done by India New-MRC projects 38 seats for the BJP and 30 for the Congress. BJP sources on the other hand said both Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari were in touch with leaders of the MGP and the Goa Forward.
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The success in Assam and the somewhat overnight change in Arunachal Pradesh only gave it more steam, with senior leaders like Ram Madhav camping in Manipur for months to replicate the formula again.
