N Biren-led Manipur govt is in trouble as 9 MLAs withdraw support

The BJP government in Manipur, led by chief minister N Biren Singh, is in trouble after 3 BJP MLAs joined the Congress and 6 other MLAs withdrew their support. The six other MLAs include 4 from the National People’s Party (NPP), 1 from Trinamool Congress (TMC), and 1 Independent, say reports. With the withdrawal of support, the BJP has become a minority in the government. According to reports, the BJP now has the support of only 22 MLAs. A total of 31 MLAs needed in the 60-member Assembly to form the government in Manipur. The 2017 Manipur Assembly elections yielded a hung verdict.

Congress emerged as the single largest party with 28 MLAs. The BJP, which won only 21 seats, formed the government under the leadership of N Biren Singh taking support from the NPP and other MLAs. The NPP had three ministers and one MLA. But the NPP MLAs including the 3 ministers, the independent MLA from Jiribam and the lone Trinamool MLA have withdrawn their support from the N Biren-led government. The NPP is a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).