Guwahati: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday emerged a formidable contender for power by bagging 21 seats in 60-members Manipur assembly elections.
Two allies of BJP-Naga Peoples Front (NPF) and National Peoples Party (NPP) also bagged four seats each. The BJP strategist in Imphal claimed that Trinamool MLA has agreed to extend support to BJP led alliance while the Lok Janshakti Party, which also got one seat, is already a partner of National Democratic Alliance.
The ruling Congress party, facing the anti-incumbency of three-terms, emerged the single largest party by winning 28 seats but failed to touch the magic figure of 31 seats.
Manipur PCC president T.N. Haokip however claimed that his party would form the next government with the help of "like-minded secular and regional parties."
Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who spearheaded the Congress campaign in the run up to the elections, 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 less than 100 votes.
Other prominent Congress candidates who won included Md Abdul Naser and K Jaikishen Singh. N Biren Singh, a key BJP leader, emerged victorious from Heingang Assembly seat. Other prominent BJP nominees who won included Sapam R Singh and Heikham Dingo Singh.
Y Jaikumar Singh and Langpoklakpam J Singh of Nationalist People's Party (NPP) emerged victorious from Uripok and Keishamthong seat, respectively.
The Naga People's Front won from Mao (ST), Tamei (ST) and Phungyar (ST) seats. Lokjanshakti party won Langthabal seat.
Former Union Minister Thounaojam Chaoba Singh, one of the front-runners for chief minister's post - if BJP was to win - was defeated from Nambol constituency.
