BJP's Biren Singh to take oath as Manipur CM tomorrow

The first Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Manipur will be sworn-in on Wednesday when N Biren Singh is administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Najma Heptulla.

Heptulla on Tuesday invited Singh, who was unanimously elected the leader of the 21-member BJP legislature party on Monday, to form the government.

The invitation to Singh came on a day when four members of the Naga People’s Front, a National Democratic Alliance ally, met the Governor and declared their support to BJP for government formation.

Raj Bhavan sources said the swearing-in would take place at one PM on Wednesday.

On being asked about how many ministers will take oath along with the chief minister, BJP sources in Imphal said it was yet to be worked out.

“However, it will be a small ministry and it will have representation from other allies,” the sources said.

“Four NPF MLAs met the governor and extended their support to the BJP for government formation,” a Raj Bhavan source said.

The BJP has claimed support of 32 MLAs in the 60-member assembly.

A BJP delegation had met the governor on Sunday with 21 party MLAs besides four of National People’s Party, and one legislator each of Lok Janshakti Party, Trinamool Congress and Congress.

The BJP had also claimed the support of the NPF and submitted a letter from the Naga People’s Front president pledging the party's support to form the government.

Raj Bhavan sources said the governor wanted to meet the NPF MLAs personally to ascertain whether they backed the BJP in forming the government.

After Goa, Manipur would be the second state among the five where elections were held recently where the BJP would form a government despite not being the single largest party by cobbling together a post-poll alliance.

The Congress, which has 28 MLAs, led the tally. Okram Ibobi Singh, its chief minister for three consecutive terms, had resigned and staked claim to form the government, but numbers were on BJP’s side.

The BJP runs a coalition government in Assam and has its own government in Arunachal Pradesh crafted through defection.

Heptulla told reporters that her decision to invite the BJP was backed by the fact that it has the requisite numbers.

Asked to comment on the Congress’ contention that she should have invited it first because it was the single largest party, she said, “I don’t know what allegations they are making. I am a straight-forward person. I go by the book. I know rules and regulations.”

She further said, “The BJP has the requisite numbers. They are more than 30. It will be helpful for Manipur... I feel it is very necessary that we should have stability in the state.”

IMAGE: Nongthombam Biren Singh is greeted after he was elected as BJP legislature party leader in Imphal on Monday. Union Power Minister and BJP observer Piyush Goyal and HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar are also seen. Photograph: PTI Photo