Congress stakes claim to form an alternative government in Manipur

Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh and some senior party leaders on Friday staked a claim to form an alternative ministry in the State.

"We had demanded dismissal of the BJP led coalition government. In the elections held in 2017 Congress had secured 28 seats . While denying us a chance to form the ministry, governor Najma Heptulla invited the BJP leaders to form the government," Mr. Ibobi said.

The Congress leaders called on the Assam governor Jagadish Mukhi at the Raj Bhavan on Friday to stake claim for the formation of the government. Mr. Mukhi reportedly told the Congress delegates that he would look into the memorandum pointing out that he is not a regular governor of Manipur. During the one month of leave by governor Najma Heptulla, the Assam governor is looking after Manipur.

Mr. Ibobi said that if he had been given chance to form the government he could have proved the majority within a few days. "We could prove our majority now if we are invited", he added. In the 2017 elections Congress bagged 28 seats in the 60 member House, BJP had managed to win 21 seats.

Mr. Ibobi told The Hindu that the party is confident that the new ministry in Karnataka will not be able to prove its majority. As a fallout we should be given the first chance to form the government in Manipur once the BJP led coalition government is dismissed.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that since what is happening in Karnataka is a constitutional matter he would not comment on it.

The political developments have come at a time when Mr. Biren Singh is under pressure to reshuffle the ministry. He however said, "Time will show when the reshuffle should take place". Most of the BJP MLAs and other coalition partner MLAs are not happy with the composition of the ministry. Besides 12 MLAs who were appointed as parliamentary secretaries are stripped of their posts and are demanding ministerial berths.