Hung assembly in Manipur: Congress becomes single largest party with 28 seats, BJP gets 21

Imphal: The results of the Manipur Assembly Elections 2017 were declared and the numbers indicate that it will perhaps be a hung assembly as neither Congress nor BJP could secure an absolute majority. 

While Congress managed to bag at least 28 of 60 seats, the BJP made giant stride to muster at least 21 seats. With this score, both the BJP and the Congress will have to find allies amongst those who have secured at least some votes in the Manipur assembly polls.

The Congress had won 42 seats in the 2012 assembly. The BJP, on the other hand, had no members in the outgoing House.

Human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who contested against Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, could secure only 90 votes and was relegated to the fourth position.

After her dismal showing, Sharmila announced that she would quit politics but continue her fight against the controversial AFSPA in the state.

The Naga Peoples Front (NPF) and the National People's Party (NPP) bagged four seats each. The Lokjanshakti Party and an Independent candidate won one seat each. In the 2012 assembly poll too LJP had won a seat.

The Trinamool Congress bagged one seat. The party had won seven seats in the previous assembly polls.

The Nationalist Congress Party which had bagged a seat in the previous assembly election, drew a blank this time.

Ibobi Singh romped home from Thoubal constituency defeating his nearest BJP rival L Basanta Singh by 10,400 votes.

The Congress and the BJP each claimed that they would form the government with the support of like-minded parties.

Manipur Congress chief T N Haokip told PTI, "We are confident that we will form the next government in Manipur. We are already in talks with like-minded secular and regional parties."

State BJP president K Bhabananda Singh also exuded the confidence of forming the government in the state.

"We are confident of forming the next government in Manipur," he said.

The BJP's vote share of 36 percent is higher than the 34.7 percent secured by the Congress.

Prominent Congress candidates who won included Md Abdul Naser and K Jaikishen Singh.

BJP leader N Biren Singh emerged victorious from Heingang seat, while other prominent winners of the party included Sapam R Singh and Heikham Dingo Singh.

Former state BJP chief Th Chaoba, however, lost.

(With IANS inputs)