Hung verdict in Manipur: Congress bags 28 seats, BJP 21

IMPHAL (INDIA): Manipur today threw up a hung assembly with the ruling Congress bagging 28 of the 60 seats and the BJP making giant strides to muster 21.nnThe Congress had won 42 seats in the 2012 assembly. The BJP, on the other hand, had no members in the outgoing House.nnHuman rights activist Irom Sharmila, who contested against Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, could secure only 90 votes and was relegated to the fourth position.nnAfter her dismal showing, Sharmila announced that she would quit politics but continue her fight against the controversial AFSPA in the state.nnThe 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.nnThe Trinamool Congress bagged one seat. The party had won seven seats in the previous assembly polls.nnThe Nationalist Congress Party which had bagged a seat in the previous assembly election, drew a blank this time.nnIbobi Singh romped home from Thoubal constituency defeating his nearest BJP rival L Basanta Singh by 10,400 votes.nnThe Congress and the BJP each claimed that they would form the government with the support of like-minded parties.nnManipur 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.”nnState BJP president K Bhabananda Singh also exuded confidence of forming the government in the state.nn”We are confident of forming the next government in Manipur,” he said.nnThe BJP’s voteshare of 36 per cent is higher than the 34.7 per cent secured by the Congress.nnProminent Congress candidates who won included Md Abdul Naser and K Jaikishen Singh.nnBJP leader N Biren Singh emerged victorious from Heingang seat, while other prominent winners of the party included Sapam R Singh and Heikham Dingo Singh.nnFormer state BJP chief Th Chaoba, however, lost.nnSource: Press Trust of India