Manipur election results 2017: Manipur headed for hung assembly as Congress, BJP in close battle

Manipur seemed to be headed for a hung assembly with the ruling Congress and the BJP locked in a neck and neck fight to emerge as the single largest party, overall trends in the vote count revealed on Saturday.

Latest Trends: Congress now leading on 26 , BJP on 25, Others 9

• Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh wins Thoubal Assembly constituency by over 8,000 votes.

• Sapam Ranjan Singh of BJP wins from Konthoujam seat over his Congress rival Konthoujam Sharat Singh by a margin of 2,772 votes.

Alliance	BJP	Congress	Others
Leads	24	26	10
Wins
Total	24	26	10

• The Congress also bagged Bishnupur, Karong, Khundrakpam, Nambol and Tipaimukh (ST), Patsoi and Wangoi, Tengnoupal (ST) seats.

• In Nambol, Congress candidate defeated T H Chaoba, the former BJP state president.

• Former Congress minister and BJP candidate from Heingang Assembly seat N Biren Singh wins by a margin of 1206 votes.

Read Also: Irom Sharmila loses to Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh in Thoubal

• Sapam R Singh of BJP won from Konthoujam Assembly seat by a margin of 2772 votes and Heikham Dingo Singh won from Sekmai constituency by 2532 votes. In Kangpokpi seat, Nemcha Kipgen of the BJP won by a margin of 2297 votes.

• BJP also bagged the assembly segments of Sagolbandh, Sekmai, Lamshang, Konthoujan, Naoriya Pakhanglakpa, Tamenglong, Churachandpur (ST).

People accepted politics of performance; this historic mandate will take the country to new direction: Amit Shah on #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/5Bpk3bhqeF

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 11, 2017

• Y Jaikumar Singh and Langpoklakpam J Singh of Nationalist People's Party (NPP) emerged victorious from Uripok and Keishamthong seats by 345 and 3261 votes respectively. NPP is leading in 2 other seats.

• The Naga People's Front won from Mao (ST), Tamei (ST) and Phungyar (ST) seats.

• Lokjanshakti party won Langthabal seat by a margin of 2331 votes.

• A big story of the election is the emergence of the BJP as a formidable contender for power. Having finished without any seat five years back,it outfit has come up with its best ever showing in the assembly polls in the northeastern state. While it is certain to finish as one of the two largest parties, its leaders were hoping to do one better with four results yet to come.

• The Congress was putting up a good show, with the BJP giving them a close run for money, in the six districts of the Imphal Valley comprising 40 constituencies.

• In the ten hill districts, where the Congress is comparatively weak, the BJP and the Naga People's Front were battling it out for the 20 seats. The NPF was leading in all three districts in Senapati district.

• Ibobi, who spearheaded the Congress campaign in the run up to the elections, also led its winners' list by retaining the prestigious Thoubal seat defeating rights activist and People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance party nominee Irom Sharmila, who got fewer than 100 votes.

• The three-time Chief Minister won comfortably with over 15,000 votes. Leitanthem Basanta Singh of BJP came second in the vote count.

• With two other PRJA nominees suffering humiliating defeats, it was a stunning blow for Sharmila, who had aimed to become the chief minister to repeal the stringent AFSPA, against which she had continued her fast-unto-death for 16 years.

• Another prominent Congress winner was state Minister Akoijam Mirabai from Patsoi.

• Two heavyweight BJP winners were T. Radheshyam, who had resigned from the Indian Police Service ahead of the elections, and party spokesperson N. Biren.

• Nothwithstanding its impressive showing, the BJP suffered a big setback, with the defeat of former Union Minister and ex state party chief Thounaojam Chaoba Singh - regarded as its Chief Ministerial candidate - from Nambol.