Politics / Manipur

Imphal, February 28: With the electoral process almost over today the four party Secular Progressive Front (SPF) headed by the Congress (I) is likely to stake claim to form the Government tomorrow. The Congress (I) has today increased its tally to 20 by securing one more seat in Churachandpdur district. With this the combined strength of the Front has gone upto 35 in a 60 member House. Dr ChaltonlienoftheINChas won the Tipaimukh seat by defeating Ngursanglur of NCP. The winner secured 3602 votes while the loser got 3566 votes. The Manipur State Congress Party has also increased its strength to...

Imphal, February 27: The Manipur State Congress Party, now a constituent member of the newly formed Secular Progressive Front (SPF) led by the Congress has withdrawn support to the NDA Government led by the BJP at New Delhi. The decision to withdraw support was taken in a joint meeting of the party's central executive committee and the six newly elected members at the official residence of Th Chaoba, the Lok Sabha MP at Babupara today. Chaoba is the president of this regional party. The decision to sever ties with the NDA has been taken in view of the alliance with the Congress in Manipur. The...

Imphal, February 27: The former Chief Minister RK Dorendro Singh has been elected as leader of the BJP legislature party in a meeting of the party legislators. The Federal Party of Manipur has also reportedly elected Leitanthem Tomba as the leader of the FPM legislature group. The newly elected 13 members unanimously elected Tomba as their leader in a meeting which was held at the residence of party president Dr L Chandramani Singh. Meanwhile the Samata Party has accused the BJP of trying to effect defection among the newly elected Samata Party members. Two more candidates of Congress (I) RK...

Imphal, February 27: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (I) president Okram Ibobi Singh has been elected "unanimously" the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in a meeting of the newly elected party legislators this morning. Ibobi's name was proposed by Th Devendra and seconded by Phungzathang Tonsing, former MPCC (I) president. AICC observers Pranab Mukherjee, Mani Shanker Aiyer and Imran Kidwai were also present during the election. Of the 19 elected members, 17 were physically present during the election of Ibobi. Congress with 19 MLAs is now heading a four party Secular Progressive...

Imphal, February 26: The Indian National Congress, the Federal Party of Manipur and the Samata Party have increased their tally by one each, with the declaration of election results for three more Assembly constituencies today. The INC is still in the lead with 16 seats, out of 55 whose results have been declared so far, while the FPM is in second place with 13. The Samata Party now has three seats. Sitting MLA Sonchinkhup, representing the INC, was re-elected in 56-Thanlon A/c, defeating his nearest rival John K Ngaihte of the SAP by a margin of 1008 votes. Sonchinkhup received a total of...

Imphal, February 26: Though MSCP?s president Th Chaoba was present at the meeting wherein the Congress led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) was formed with the MSCP, NCP, and CPI as constituent partners, he told The Sangai Express late this evening that his party is yet to formally withdraw from the NDA. The MSCP is a partner of the NDA Government at the Centre and Chaoba was inducted into the Union Ministry at one time. Chaoba said that an emergency meeting of the MSCP Central Executive Committee and its elected members will be held tomorrow. He expressed hope that the meeting will give the...

Imphal, February 26: With election results in all but a few hill Assembly constituencies declared, the Indian National Congress, INC, has stolen a march over the BJP in the race to form a new government, having managed to cobble together an alliance that has almost reached the requisite majority in the 60 seat Assembly. On the other hand, a dispute has developed within the party over the election of a new CLP leader. The new alliance, dubbed the Secular Progressive Front, comprises the Nationalist Congress Party, the Manipur State Congress Party and the Communist Party of India, apart from the...

Imphal, February 25: The two newly elected MLAs of the DPP, N Biren and Dr Th Meinya today pledged that they would abide by the principles of the party and work towards ushering in a new Manipur. Dr Th Meinya who was elected from Konthoujam AC told The Sangai Express that many former MLAs have been shown the door by the electorates for their misdeeds and misdoings. Dr Meinya said the DPP will go along with other like minded political parties in its efforts to bring in a new change. However the DPP is also ready to play the role of a constructive Opposition, he added. Whatever the case DPP will...

Ukhrul, February 25: Wungnaoshang Keishing created perhaps one of the biggest upset in the history of Manipur?s electoral politics by defeating Rishang Keishing ? a feat that was hitherto thought to be impossible. Wungnaoshang Keishing secured a total of 4412 votes ahead of the man who has been chief minister of the state longer than all others who has ever held the post, Rishang Keishing could manage only 3423 votes. Wungnaoshang, of the MSCP before the polls was dubbed a ?nonentity? but by his feat has etched a name for himself in the state?s electoral history. Making the story more...

Imphal, February 25: The second day of counting of votes for the 8th Assembly elections threw up some big surprises with several more political heavyweights falling. Chief among these are former chief minister Rishang Keishing, former deputy CM Dr L Chandramani and Speaker Dr Sapam Dhananjoy. Results of all 40 Assembly constituencies in the valley areas, and all of the hill constituencies, except those where repolls are due to take place have been declared. The Congress is still in the lead, securing 15 of the 52 seats whose results have been declared so far, while the Federal Party of Manipur...