Manipur Assembly election: Will NPP, NPF be part of new govt? BJP's N Biren Singh replies
Counting of votes is underway in Manipur with BJP being declared winner 14 seats, while leading in 13 others, according to the latest data shared by the Election Commission of India.
As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) inched closer towards returning to power in Manipur, incumbent chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said the party would continue to have an alliance with the Naga Peoples' Front (NPF), a part of the current ruling coalition, when it forms the next government.
However, the National People's Party (NPP) might not be part of that alliance, he added. "I don't think the NPP will be with us (be a part of the next government)," Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Counting of votes is underway in Manipur with BJP being declared winner 14 seats, while leading in 13 others, according to the latest data shared by the Election Commission of India.
Singh defeated his nearest Congress rival, P Saratchandra Singh, by 18,271 votes in the Heingang seat. Singh said the BJP will take time to stake a claim to form a government, adding that central leaders of the party will take a call on the next chief minister. "We will take time to stake a claim to form a government, let the results be out. Our national leaders will decide on the chief minister's face. We will focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of inclusive development," he also said.
In one of the major highlights of the election results, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) recorded its first win in Manipur after 22 years. The party bagged four seats and was leading in three others.
The Congress, which ruled the state before the BJP-led coalition came to power in 2017, won three seats and is leading in another.
The National People's Party (NPP) grabbed two. The newly formed Kuki People's Alliance has also opened its account in one constituency and was leading in another.
NPF and NPP – both parties are part of the current ruling alliance, led by the BJP. However, both the parties did not have any pre-poll alliance with the BJP as it decided to go solo in all 60 seats.
Counting of votes for 60 Assembly seats in Manipur began at 8am on Thursday under tight security and strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.