Cong has the edge in Manipur

The Congress, which won only 20 seats in the 2002 polls, not only beat the anti-incumbency factor that did in the Congress governments in Punjab and Uttarakhand. The party got 10 more seats indicating the electorate has gone in for the stability that the incumbent government had provided. Ibobi’s government was also the first in the state’s legislative history to complete the full five-year term.

Retaining their seats were PWD minister Govindas Konthoujam, Hills & TD minister Phunzathang Tonsing, Agriculture minister Ph Parijat, PHED minister TN Haokip, FCS minister Th Debendra, Comm & Ind minister N Mangi, Education minister L Nandakumar and MOBC Md Allaudin Khan. The RJD, which managed only three seats, has indicated that it will throw its lot in with the Congress. The NCP, too, is expected to join in along with the CPI. The NCP has won five and the CPI four. MPCC president Gaikhangam also retained his seat from Nungba.

The Manipur People’s Party (MPP), which had looked to dominate this election on the regional revival plank, took a beating at the hustings winning only five seats out the 36 it contested. The heavyweights who lost were former CM RK Dorendro, former Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Th Chaoba Singh and MPP president L Chandramani Singh.

Also falling short of their pre-poll claims were the United Naga Council-backed Independent Naga candidates, winning only five out of the 11 seats they contested. Independent candidate from Tamenglong Khangthuanang Panmei, who was abducted and later released by the NSCN (I-M), won while still in hiding.

NCP state unit chief and former CM Radhabinod Koijam, who won from Thangmeiband, may corner a ministerial berth.