There seems to be no end to the suspense over government formation in Manipur, with the Congress on Monday saying Governor Najma Heptulla should call its leader Okram Ibobi Singh to form a government as it has emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections.
In a late night development on Sunday, Mr. Singh, who was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party, met the Governor and staked claim to form a government.
Prior to this, BJP leadership met the Governor and claimed that they have the numbers to form a government. Along with its 21 MLAs, the BJP has the support of four MLAs each from the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the National People’s Party ( NPP) and one from Lok Janshakti Party ( LJP). Congress MLA T. Shyamkumar and Trinamool Congress MLA Robindro Singh have also expressed their support to the BJP led combination and were present at Raj Bhawan with the BJP leadership.
Congress's contention
Senior Congress leader C.P. Joshi said, “The Governor has to decide. As per the decision of the Supreme Court, who has the numbers in the House cannot be decided by the Governor. It has to decided on the floor of the House.”
Mr. Joshi said that in the absence of clear majority by any party as per precedence, the single largest party should be given an opportunity to form a government and prove its majority on the floor of the House.
He alleged that the BJP is trying to poach on the Congress members. ''All expect Mr. Shyamkumar is with the Congress,'' he said.
BJP meeting
The BJP is likely to elect its leader by Monday evening. BJP's central observers will chair the meeting when the chief ministerial candidate is decided.
According to sources in the party, the two top contenders for the post include N. Biren Singh, who is elected from the Heingang seat and T. Biswajit Singh from the Thongju constituency.
