Image: PTI
Having won a solo majority, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form the state government in Manipur. While experts predicted BJP-dominance in the 60-seat State Assembly, the 2022 elections changed the power politics among the Opposition parties.
Final Assembly election results by the Election Commission of India (ECI) show that the BJP won 32 seats – just past the half-way mark of 31 seats – with a vote share of 37.8 percent. Incumbent Chief Minister N. Biren Singh won the Heingang constituency with a margin of 18,271 votes.
Warm welcome to CM Shri @NBirenSingh ji to Thambal Shanglen after a resounding victory from Heignang constituency.
It is not just ‘Meeyamgi CM’ who is jumping with joy, we all are. #BJPAgain @BJP4India @BJP4Manipur @JPNadda @byadavbjp @sambitswaraj pic.twitter.com/sEtwI0rlel
— Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi (@AShardaDevi) March 10, 2022
On the other hand, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh won the Thoubal constituency, but his party is no longer the leading Opposition party. The Congress won 5 seats out of the 60 constituencies, placing third behind the Janata Dal (United) that won 6 seats and the National People’s Party (NPP) which has become the leading Opposition party with 7 seats. The NPP is led by Conrad Sangma, who is the Chief Minister of Meghalaya and NPP President . NPP has won in Kakching, Khetrigao, Moirang, Oinam, Tadubi, Tamenglong and Wangoi constituencies and cornered a vote share of 17.3 percent.
The other regional party, Naga People’s Front (NPF) is an ally of the BJP in Nagaland. Though they decided to contest elections solo, it is likely that the party that won 5 seats could form a coalition with the saffron party. Meanwhile, independents won 3 seats and the Kuki People’s Alliance party won 2 seats.
In 2017, the Congress was the single largest party in Assembly elections. The BJP formed the government by forming a coalition with the NPP, NPF and Lok Janshakti Party. The 2022 Assembly Elections have now changed political equations in the state.
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