Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 10 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh retained his Heingang assembly constituency seat by a huge margin of 17,782 votes over his nearest rival.
The BJP crossed the magic mark by winning 32 seats in the 60-member assembly.
Congress, which won 28 seats in 2017, managed to win only five this time, while NPP won seven; JD (U), six; NPF, five; Kuki People’s Alliance, two; and Independent, two.
This time, as many as 15 sitting MLAs, including two ministers -- Deputy CM Y Joykumar of NPP and Agriculture Minister O Lukhoi of BJP -- tate Congress chief N Loken and CWC member Gaikhangam lost.
In Nambol seat, Manipur Congress president N Loken was defeated by his rival BJP candidate Th Basanta by a margin of 3060 votes, while former deputy chief minister Gaingangam lost to new face Dinganglung Gangmei of BJP by a margin of 3894 votes in Nungba constituency.
On the other hand, more than a dozen new faces including a woman candidate were elected. Newly floated Kuki People’s Alliance bagged Saikul and Singhat seats.
Similarly, the JD(U),which fielded 38 candidates, managed to win six seats. The winning candidates are Md Ashabuddin (Jiribam), Kh Joykishan (Thangmeiband), Ngursanglur Sanate (Tipaimukh), LM Khaute (Churachandpur), Md Abdul Nasir (Lilong), and Th Arunkumar (Wangkhei).
On the other hand, NPP which fielded 37 candidates bagged seven seats, making it the second largest party.
Interestingly, Naga People’s Front (NPF), a BJP ally which fielded 10 candidates, won five seats.
In the 2017 Manipur elections, the Congress emerged as the single-largest party after winning 28 but the BJP was able to form the government with NPP, NPF and Lok Janshakti Party.