The contest is neck and neck between the Congress and the BJP in Manipur.
However, Ram Madhav, BJP's national general secretary, said:"Going by the trend, the BJP will emerge as the single largest party in Manipur. Trend shows negative voting against Congress. We expect to win 25 seats and hoping to get support from other parties [NPF, NPP] to form a government."
The updates:
5.30 p.m.:
With Manipur heading for a hung assembly, Manipur PCC President T.N. Haokip said his party would form the next government with the help of “like-minded secular and regional parties.”
5.00 p.m.:
"I am fed up with politics after seeing the results. I won't contest again. I want to quit politics. I want PRAJA to do well," a very emotional Irom Sharmila shares her thoughts after an unexpected bitter defeat.
3.45 p.m.:
BJP's prominent candidates N. Biren Singh from Heingang and Biswajit Singh from Thongzu win.
3.42 p.m.:
Meanwhile, Mr. Gaikhangam, Deputy CM and Congress candidates from Nungbal, wins by 5147 votes.
3.35 p.m.:
BJP leaders Himanta Biswa Sarma and Ram Madhav is seen in a huddle with NPP party members, reports Shiv Sahay Singh . NPP leader Conrad Sangma (P.A. Sangma's son) is also present.
3.20 p.m.:
Manipur is headed towards hung assembly. BJP likely to form government with NPP and NPF.
3.05 p.m.:
BJP takes the lead in the State, wins 16 seats and continues to lead in three. Congress on the other hand, is just one seat behind, grabbing 15 seats. Congress continues to lead in 9.
2.40 p.m.:
And the nail-biting race continues, the Congress and the BJP win 14 seats each. However, Congress is leading nine and BJP in six.
2.33 p.m.:
According to the latest report, Congress wins 14, BJP gets 13 seats. Looks like, both the parties will finish up close to each other. As hinted by Ram Madhav, BJP might look for a coalition with Naga Peoples Front and National People's Party to form a government.
1.54 p.m.:
Congress wins 12 seats, BJP wins ten. BJP is leading in eight and Congress in nine seats.
1.40 p.m.:
Congress wins 11 seats, BJP wins ten. Both BJP and Congress are leading in six. Both Naga Peoples Front and National People's Party win three seats each. Lok Jan Shakti Party wins one.
1.02 p.m.
Congress wins nine seats, BJP wins four. However, BJP is leading in 12 seats, whereas Congress in seven. Both Naga Peoples Front and National People's Party win three seats each.
12.40 p.m.
Neck and neck fight continues in Manipur. According to the latest report, Congress wins eight seats, BJP wins three. However, BJP leads in nine seats and Congress in eight. Both Naga Peoples Front and National People's Party win two seats each.
12.25 p.m.
The three-time Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, who had established an insurmountable lead over Ms. Sharmila of the PRJA party, won comfortably with over 15,000 votes. Leitanthem Basanta Singh of BJP came second in the votes.
12.10 p.m.
Ram Madhav, BJP's national general secretary, spoke to The Hindu's correspondent Shiv Sahay Singh in Imphal.
Mr. Madhav says, "Going by the trend BJP will emerge as single largest party in Manipur. Trend shows negative voting against Congress. We expect to win 25 seats; hoping to get support of other parties (NPF, NPP and so).
11.50 a.m.
According to the latest information, Congress wins three seats whereas BJP wins two seats, and Naga People's Front and National People's Party wins one each.
11.20 a.m.
BJP wins two seats while Congress leads in 12.
11.15 a.m.
Congress candidate and Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh wins Thoubal by a margin of over 10,400 votes.
10.55 a.m.
Manipur results declared at Konthoujam , BJP candidayte Sapam Ranjan Singh wins.
10.45 a.m.
BJP wins one seat, leading in eight. Congress leads in 11, Naga Peoples Front and National People's Party leading in two and three seats respectively.
10.20 a.m.
Irom sharmila, who trails against Okram Ibobi Singh, has so far got 85 votes less than NOTA votes (120) polled in Thoubal.
9.40 a.m.
Official trends show, BJP leading in seven, Congress in four, Naga People's Front and National People's Party leading in two each.
9.20 a.m.
Earlier trends show, Both Congress and Naga People's Front leading in one seats, where as BJP leads in three of four seats and Independent in one seat.
The four-month-long blockade by the United Naga Council of highways leading up to the valley has dominated the discourse in the run-up to the elections.
8.50 a.m.
Both BJP and Congress are leading in one seat, reports AIR .
8.40 a.m.
Irom Sharmila trails as Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh leading in his constituency Thoubal, reports ANI.
8.00 a.m.
Counting of votes for 60 seats in the Manipur Assembly began at in 11 venues spread across the state.
7.30 a.m.
According to Chief Electoral Officer V.K. Dewangan results of Chandel, Jiribam, Senapati and Kangpokpi would take “minimal time“.
However, the result in the Thoubal constituency, where rights activist Irom Sharmila is pitted against Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, is likely to take more time.
7.00 a.m.
The Modi wave and anti-incumbency will see the party through…. If we fall short of some seats, we can still manage,” the BJP’s State General Secretary N. Nimbus Singh said, hinting at the possibility of an alliance with smaller parties.
