Imphal, Mar 10 : The ruling BJP seemed on track to emerge as the single largest party comfortably, but could still fall marginally short of its target of an absolute majority in Manipur assembly polls, with some of the regional parties coming up with good performances and the Congress faring dismally in the vote count on Thursday. Only four results have been declared so far, and the Janata Dal ( ted) have won three seat and BJP won one seat. The BJP was leading in 26 other seats, while the National People’s Party (NPP) was ahead in nine seats, and the Naga People’s Front (NPF) in five, and the JD(U) in three. The Congress, which had finished as the single largest party in 2017 by bagging 28 seats, was ahead in only nine. Other parties and independents were leading in the remaining six seats. Dr.Usham Deben Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party seized the Wabagai seat by defeating the sitting Congress legislator Fajur Rahim, while JD(U)’s Ngursanglur Sanate emerged victorious from Tipaimukh, which had also elected the Congress last time. Chief Minister N Biren was almost victorious at Heingang Assembly constituency as he was leading by 18271 votes over P Saratchandra of Congress. The official declaration by the Returning Officer was awaited. N Biren offered prayers at the Shri Shri Govindajee temple at Imphal with party leader Sambit Patra, and hoped that his party would get 30 pus seats. The BJP has already started preparing for a victory function at its head office at Imphal later in the day. However, he said that even if his party wins a majority, it ould form a coalition government as the BJP central leadership was in favour of “keeping the friendly parties along with us”. Janata Dal ( ted) candidate Md Ashab Uddin defeated Nameirakpam Budhachandra Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party by 416 votes in Jiribam assembly seat. Janata Dal ( ted) candidate Ngursanglur Sanate defeated Chalton Lien Amo of Bharatiya Janata Party by 1249 votes in Tipaimukh assembly seat Another JD(U) nominee and heavyweight in state politics Khumukcham Joykisan Singh defeated Jotin Waikhom of Bharatiya Janata Party by 3773 votes in Thangmeiband seat BJP strongman, Thokchom Radheshyam was ahead at Heirok while state Congress President N Loken was trailing his BJP opponent Basanta Singh at Nambol. Former Congress President Gaikhangam Gangme was also trailing BJP’s Dinganglung Gangmei at Nungba . Former Chief Minister and Congress candidate Okram Ibobi Singh has amassed an emphatic lead at Thoubal. However, Ibobi’s son Okram Joy Singh was now running behind his BJP rival Karam Shyam in Langthabal. Two women candidates of BJP were in the lead. While former minister Nemcha Kipgen has established a comfortable lead at Kangpokpi, SS Olish was the frontirunenr at Chandel. On the other hand, Agriculture Minister O Lukhoi of the BJP was lagging behind NPP candidate Loken at Wangoi. NS SSP BM
