On Sunday, BJP claimed a majority in Manipur by submitting a list of 32 MLAs. They claimed a majority of 2 votes after submitting letters of support from regional parties to the Governor Najma Heptullah. BJP in the Assembly elections won 21 seats and Congress won 28. But BJP allied with National People’s Party (4MLAs) and Naga People’s Front which has four seats, LJP 1 seat and two lone independent members who were elected on the Trinamool ticket. While BJP turned the wind, Congress leader and CM Ibobi Singh met the Governor and staked his claim and said that as a single largest party, Congress should be allowed to prove majority in the House.
Congress leader Robindro Singh was spotted with the BJP team when they met the Governor along with state in charge Prahlad Singh. Though Congress MLA Shyam Kumar Singh’s name doesn’t appear in the list of MLAs backing BJP, he was found with the BJP team. These spottings sparked the rumors of BJP trying to split the Congress party in Manipur State.
Also, Independent MLA Ashab flew back to Guwahati amidst high drama at the Imphal airport. The drama started around noon after Ashab, who was elected from Jiribam from the border of Cachar district in Assam, landed at Imphal airport from Guwahati along with the Congress minister Abdul Nasir. The Congress minister Nasir claimed that BJP MLA Biswajit Singh, was waiting on the tarmac with CISF officials. He alleged that the BJP minister took Ashab away by taking the help of CISF officials. After observing the tussle between the BJP and INC ministers Ashab requested to return to Guwahati and was duly flown back in a chartered aircraft.
C.P. Joshi, the AICC General Secretary said that Ashab’s detention at the airport by the CISF was illegal and a violation of Democracy. He alleged, “The Centre used the state machinery to sabotage democracy in Manipur.” The CISF refused to make any comments on these allegations. The BJP called Joshi’s comments baseless and Ram Madhav, the BJP general Secretary said, “We will prove our majority in the House. The people’s mandate was against Congress and CM Okram Ibobi Singh.”
In the Assembly elections, Congress secured 35% of votes, which was higher than BJP. But the Bharatiya Janata Party has dramatically turned the tables and raised its votes to 36.3%. With 28 Congress MLAs electing the CM Ibobi Singh as the new leader of the Congress legislature party, the spokesman Debabrata Singh said Congress will stake its claim to form the government soon.
