Congress And BJP Are in Close Contest For Manipur
Three-time chief minister Ibobi Singh faces his toughest challenge yet.
Manipur has 60 seats in its Assembly. The incumbent Chief Minister Ibobi Singh of the Congress party has been in power for 15 years. This time, the Congress faces a contest from Bharatiya Janata Party. Activist Irom Sharmila makes her political debut in this election. Exit polls have predicted a win for a BJP.
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Contribute5.45pm: Congress has won 24 seats in Manipur and is leading in one. This means it has more seats than BJP, which has won in 20 and is also leading in one. However, speaking in Delhi, Amit Shah told the press that BJP was confident of forming a government in Manipur so expect an alliance to be announced with one of the smaller players.
Disillusioned by the fact that she got only 90 votes — even NOTA found more support in Thoubal, with 143 votes — Irom Sharmila has announced that she decided to leave politics. “People didn’t support me,” she said.
3.29pm: Although ECI says Congress is inching ahead, ANI has called Manipur in favour of BJP.
According to ECI, Congress has won 16 and is leading in eight, which gives it a final tally of 24.
3.06pm: Okram Henry Singh of Congress won the Wangkhei constituency in Manipur. He has several charges related to forgery and one of criminal intimidation against him.
2.54pm: Congress and BJP are literally running neck-to-neck in Manipur, with both parties having won 14 seats each. Congress is leading in nine while BJP is leading in 6.
12.40pm: The Election Commission declares Ibobi Singh winner from Thoubal. Irom Sharmila got 90 votes while Singh got 18,649.
12.13pm: BJP is gaining ground in Manipur, according to the Election Commission of India:
11.01am: Leads are in for 30 of the 60 seats. The Times of India and India Express have give BJP the lead in 13 seats. The Congress is leading in 14.
10.50am: Irom Sharmila, who was up against Ibobi Singh, has lost. Singh holds on to the Thoubal seat. She reportedly got just 51 votes.
9.55am: Congress leading in 10 seats in Manipur. BJP leads in Chandel and Wangoi, but the competition is neck-to-neck.
9:00 am: Counting has begun in all the states. Here’s what the exit polls for Manipur had predicted:
7.42am: If you’d like a quick background on the kind of political challenges Ibobi Singh is facing, read this overview of current Manipur politics.
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