TMC may be kingmaker

A day before the results,all eyes are on the Trinamool Congress. After the Congress,the TMC is tipped to emerge as the second largest party in the state

A day before the results,all eyes are on the Trinamool Congress here. After the Congress,the TMC is tipped to emerge as the second largest party in the state. Regardless of how many seats the party actually wins,the fact is that it will act as a spoiler for the Congress party,as it cuts into the partys vote bank.

The TMC has sent mixed signals so far. On one hand,party leaders have said that they will join the 10-party rainbow coalition comprising of all the non-Congress parties. But Congress insiders said the TMC was likely to emerge as their ally.

No single party is likely to get a majority. However,following talks with the TMC last night,we are sure that they will form a coalition with us. They have just one condition that Chief Minister Ibobi Singh does not become CM again, said a senior Congress leader.

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The TMC can effectively put the Congress back in the drivers seat. According to conservative estimates,the party is likely to get five-six seats. The tally may even go up to 10 seats.

A possible Congress contender for the CMs post is Y Erabot Singh,who is known to be close to the party high command.

Meanwhile,the non-Congress parties are set to hold a meeting to decide their chief ministerial candidate.

We dont expect the Congress to get more than 20 seats. We will manage to form the next government. The TMC has promised us its support. The rest of the parties include the NCP,JD(U),Manipur Peoples Party,Naga Peoples Front,CPI,CPM,Manipur State Congress Party, said NCP leader P A Sangma.

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Admitting that it is an unlikely coalition,he added: It works because everyone in the coalition just wants one thing the defeat of the Congress.

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