Imphal, March 11: The ruling Indian National Congress party becomes the single largest party in Manipur by winning 28 seats while opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–which couldn’t win a single seat in 2012 assembly elections –managed to get 21 seats this time when the results of the two-phase 11th Manipur assembly elections was declared on Saturday.
Political observers here said smaller parties will play a key role in forming the next government in the blockade ridden border state: the Naga People’s Front (NPF) bagged four seats this time as in the previous elections; the National People’s Party (NPP) landed four seats; besides single seat winners-such as the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), and the Lok Jan Sakti Party (LJP) and independent candidates.
However, BJP leaders expressed satisfaction over their party’s performance in the assembly elections: “It’s all because of anti-incumbency and mis-governance of the previous government,” they claimed. Some of the BJP leaders who were re-elected even claimed that their party will form the next government 'by holding meetings.’
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who also retains his coveted Thoubal seat by beating his rival BJP candidate L Basanta by a huge margin of 10,470 votes, could not be contacted.
When asked whether his party plans to initiate any talk for forming the government, state Congress chief TN Haokip said that they will also be discussing the matter after sitting together with the chief minister. Haokip retains his Saikot seat in Churachandpur district by defeating BJP candidate Paokholal Haokip by a margin of 5101 votes. He got 16,354 votes.
Similarly, Ibobi got 18,649 votes while his rival BJP candidate Basanta got 8,179 votes in Thoubal.
Sharmila gets only 90 votes; quits politics
Iconic rights activist Irom Sharmila who contested in Thoubal too also lost in her maiden election fight–she got just 90 votes.
Meanwhile Sharmila told the media that she will stop contesting in the elections. ‘But I will help the Peoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance to survive,’ she added.
(PTI adds) After her dismal performance in the Manipur assembly elections, human rights activist Irom Sharmila today announced that she would quit politics but continue her fight against the AFSPA in the state.
"I am fed up with this political system. I have decided to quit active politics. I will move to south India as I need to calm my mind," Sharmila told PTI. "But I will continue my fight against AFSPA until and unless it is repealed. But I will fight as a social activist," she said.
Sharmila, who contested from Thoubal constituency against Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was relegated to the fourth position. She secured just 90 votes.
The two other candidates of her newly floated party Peoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) lost their deposits.
