Manipur Live: Cong Accuses BJP of Horse-Trading, Killing Democracy

Alleging that the BJP is indulging in horse-trading in Manipur, Congress MP Ripun Bora on Tuesday asserted that the party is “murdering democracy all over the country.”

“We got information that the BJP hijacked 5-6 Cong MLAs and took them to Guwahati, this is horse-trading,” Bora, said.

N Biren Singh was unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Manipur, paving the way for his becoming the next chief minister. Union Minister Piyush Goel made the announcement at a press conference on Monday.

Singh will meet Governor Najma Heptulla and stake claim to form the next government in the state, said Goel, who was present at the meeting, adding “we have the support of smaller parties”.

A former minister in the Ibobi Singh-led Congress government, Biren thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership for giving him an opportunity to serve Manipur.

Also Read: Both BJP and Congress Stake Claim to Form Government in Manipur

Okram Ibobi Singh resigned from his position as the Chief Minister of Manipur late on Monday. Singh had earlier refused to step down when asked by Governor Najma Heptulla, saying the numbers were on his side. However, later in the day, Ibobi Singh announced that he would step down in 24 hours.

Earlier, Heptulla had asked the leader to submit his resignation immediately, so that the process of formation of the next government can be started.

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The BJP on Monday deftly outmanoeuvred the Congress to clinch power in the state and was set to form its first government in the northeastern state

In a day of fast-paced developments, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost no time to cobble up the numbers required to form government.

The BJP, which was at second spot in the state, winning 21 seats to the Congress party's 28, did not waste time in getting four MLAs each of the National People's Party and the Naga People's Front (NPF), which is also one of NDA's alliance partners at the Centre, to its side, plus three other lawmakers. The BJP now has the support of 32 members in the 60-seat assembly.

Also Read: Congress Accuses BJP of ‘Murdering’ Democracy in Manipur, Goa