The Congress won 30 of the 60 seats in the Manipur assembly elections, andlooks set to form the next government in the state. CPI, which was a junior partner in the outgoing Secular Progressive Front(SPF) ministry and secured 4 seats this time, is likely to join a coalition government led bythe Congress. The strength of the Congress and CPI is thus 34 in the 60-member House.While the NCP bagged 6 seats, RJD secured 3, and the Manipur People's Party [MPP]got 5 seats. 10 Independents account for the rest of the seats.
Sources in the Congress maintain that the steering committee of the SPF ministry held a meeting yesterday during which the CPI offered to join the next ministry if the Congress and CPI received absolute majority.It is not yet known whether the NCP and RJD, partners of the UPA government in Delhi, would join the new ministry.State RJD president and former Chief Minister W. Nipamacha Singh who lost to NCP nominee S Joy Singh in Wangoi had said his party would strictly abide by the decision of RJD central leaders.
Prominent Congress leaders -- Forest Minister Th. Debendra Singh (Jiribam), Education Minister L. Nandakumar Singh (Uripok), Works Minister Konthouam Govindas, Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing (Churachandpur) and Information Minister T N Haokip (Saikot) retained their seats.
Senior Congress candidates who lost included Horticulture Minister Francis Ngajokpa (Tadubi), Cooperation Minister W. Leima, Assembly Speaker Manir Udin Sheikh and Chairman, Manipur Tribal Development Corporation, Chaltonlien Amo(Tipaimukh).
Senior MPP leader and former Speaker O. Joy Singh was elected from Langthabal, but party president and former Deputy Chief Minister L. Chandramani Singh lost in Patsoi.
Former medical minister and prominent MPP leader Nimaichand Luwang who had represented Wangkhem constituency for over four terms lost to Congress nominee K. Meghachandra Singh.
Political observers maintain that the Congress emerging as the single largest party wasalso because of the 'stability' factor, as the government headed by it completed its full term -- a first in the political history ofManipur.
The Congress and CPI may have to formulate a common minimum programme because there were differences over the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958(AFSPA) which was the main issue of the election. Sonia Gandhi had personallycampaigned in the troubled state and had managed to sway voters by her strongrefutation of the strident demands for carving out parts of Manipur for aGreater Nagalim state, the longstanding demand by adjoining Naga-rebels which isa highly emotive issue in Manipur.
