After swearing-in as Bharatiya Janata Party’s first Chief Minister in Manipur on March 15, Nongthombam Biren Singh has won the floor test in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly. Biren Singh proved the support of 33 MLAs in the house today as asked by Governor Najma Heptullah while BJP MLA Yumnam Khemchand Singh has been elected as the speaker of the Manipur Assembly.
On March 12, a list of 33 MLAs was submitted by BJP to the Governor of the state, Najma Heptullah along with a letter a support from the regional parties. In its claim handed over to the Governor, BJP claimed the support of National People’s Party – 4 MLAs, Naga People’s Front – 4 MLAs, Lok Janshakti Party – 1 MLA and two independent candidates Ashab Uddin and T Robindro Singh.
Prior winning the floor test, the BJP believe in winning this quest while the Congress party alleged BJP of killing the democracy in the country including Manipur. According to the media reports, one of the BJP lawmakers in the state, Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, said,”There is no fear from the Congress party before the floor test. We are here just to relax and also meet some of our senior party leaders.”
On the other hand, Congress accused BJP of capturing their MLAs to prove majority. Earlier, the Congress MP Ripun Bora said,”As per the information we got, BJP high-jacked 5-6 Cong MLAs and they were taken to Guwahati.”
In the 2017 state assembly elections, out of 60 assembly seats, BJP won 21 seats while Congress got 28 and finally making it a hung assembly. But, BJP gathered support from the local parties and claimed to form the new government.
