Congress to stake claim to form govt in Manipur

GUWAHATI: The opposition Congress in Manipur claims it will form a Congress-led coalition government in the state replacing the incumbent BJP-led coalition government.
Three-time Congress chief minister in the state and leader of opposition Okram Ibobi Singh along with the allies, NPP and TMC, are scheduled to meet the governor this evening and seek a floor test for chief minister Biren Singh.


Party leader and spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei in a recorded video message, which he shared on Twitter, said, "We are going to have a new coalition government in Manipur, led by the Congress party. Along with the like-minded parties, we are going to form a government in Imphal. It has been a long-standing demand and dream for the entire state, as the mandate had been given to the Congress, and today marks a new beginning."

Meitei went on to say, "This clearly shows the downfall of Narendra Modi and BJP led regime. This is a new trend and beginning for 2024, this is a new beginning for 2022 in different states of the country and I am sure this is the rise of the Congress and like-minded parties," he added.

The northeastern state suddenly plunged into a political crisis on Wednesday after three BJP MLAs defected to Congress, while four ministers of National People's Party (NPP), an independent MLA and TMC MLA of the ruling alliance withdrew their support.
Congress finished as the single largest party in 2017 election with 28 MLAs but BJP, which won 21 seats, stitched a collation with Naga People's Front, NPP, TMC and an Independent to form the government.man