Imphal, March 12 (IANS/NNN): BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday said the party will meet Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla to stake claim to forming the new government in the state with ally Naga People’s Front (NPF), and the support of National People’s Party (NPP) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). “We will approach Governor Najma Heptulla seeking her to invite the BJP, supported by the NPP and the LJP, to form the government in Manipur,” said Madhav. Monday being Holi, it is not yet known if the Governor can proceed with formalities. The BJP has proposed N. Biren for Chief Minister and Th. Biswajit as Deputy Chief Minister. N. Biren, a former journalist, was a Congress member and spokesperson for the Government of Manipur under O. Ibobi Singh till he joined BJP a few months before the elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won 21 seats in the assembly elections held earlier this month, achieved the vaunted 31-seat mark earlier in the day with the support of its ally NPF (4 seats), and the NPP (4 seats), LJP (1) and one Independent. “I thank the NPP and the LJP for extending support to the BJP. I also thank the people of Manipur for having voted for change and progressive Manipur,” said Madhav. On the occasion, NPP National President Conrad Sangma said: “I thank the people of Manipur for voting for change in the state.” The Congress emerged as the single-largest party post-poll with 28 seats in the 60-member house but failed to garner support to form a new government.
