BJP retains Biren Singh as Chief Minister of Manipur

 Imphal 

In the ultimate his image of a strong Meitei leader and his proximity to BJP central  leadership made the saffron party retain Nongthombam Biren Singh as the next Manipur Chief Minister for the second term.

"I assure that there will be a very good government which will run for the benefit of all the people of Manipur," BJP central observer and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said after the announcement. 

Biren Singh is credited for party's record win -- 32 seats of it's own- though Biren was not projected as the chief ministerial face before the polls.

In fact, the process got delayed as Biswajit also made it known that he too was in the race for the coveted post.

Indications favoured Biren Singh ... !!

Of course senior Minister Th Bishwajit and recent Congress defector Govindas Konthoujam were also aspirants for the coveted post. 

On January 6 no less than, Home Minister Amit Shah was very clear on the question of the next leadership as he appealed to the people of Manipur to vote for the BJP in the 2022 elections so that a BJP government led by N Biren Singh returns to continue the ‘good work’ of the double engine combine. 

NPP was firmly opposed to Biren Singh.

After the election results were out, it was claimed Th Bishwajit had the tacit backing of party president Sharda Devi and possibly 16 of the 32 party MLAs wanted change in favour of Biswajit.

The claim was later denied. There was even talk of a conspiracy within the party of a certain section helping NPP candidates so that BJP would be compelled to seek NPP's help, but all that even if true did not work. 

Even BJP national president JP Nadda himself had hinted in his address at the Kakching Youth rally about the incumbent N Biren Singh returning as CM again.

Ms Sitharaman made the much-awaited announcement to reinstal N Biren Singh as chief minister of the new BJP government  after a closed-door meeting held with BJP leaders at the party office in Imphal on Sunday.   Appreciating the gravity of the issue, Arunachal Pradesh lawmaker and Union Law Minister  Kiren Rijiju  was also deputed to travel to Imphal and talk to party MLAs.

Biren held the chief minister post in the last five years of the first BJP-led government in Manipur. In 2017,  the Congress rule led by former mchief minister Okram Ibobi Singh that lasted for 15 years in the state had ended as despite winning 21 seats, the saffron party aligned with NPP and NPF and ran the government for five years.

In the run up to the polls, both the regional partners were dumped and the BJP contested all 60 seats.

"The decision to appoint Biren as CM of Manipur for the second time under the leadership Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go a long way in providing Manipur stability and a good governance together with the MLAs who won the election because the people of Manipur have been so good in trusting and in giving support by electing a majority BJP government," Sitharaman said.

The Union minister then thanked the people of Manipur for the trust and support provided to the BJP, and assured the people of Manipur good governance under the BJP rule.

“I thanked the people of Manipur and I assure that there will be a very good government which will run for the benefit of all the people of Manipur," she said.

Sitharaman along with Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju arrived in Imphal as Central observers for the election of the BJP legislature leader on Sunday. 

They were accompanied by other party leaders, including Bhupendra Yadav, Sambit Patra, Karma S Z Lhasunga, and MP Leishemba Sanajoba.

For his part, Biren Singh retained the MLA seat of Heingang assembly constituency for the record fifth time, defeating his rival Congress candidate P Sharatchandra by 18,271 votes.