Manipur's first BJP government to be sworn in on Wednesday in Imphal
A top source from the BJP said that Manipur governor Najma Hetullah has already asked BJP to form the next government in the state, after the party submitted its list of 32 MLAs with support of nine MLAs of Naga People's Front (NPF), National People's Party (NPP) and LJP.
Apart from the nine MLAs, two MLAs of Congress and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) have joined BJP.
The source said that N Biren Singh, MLA of Heingang constituency, will be sworn in as the first BJP chief minister in Manipur.
The swearing -in ceremony will be held at the Rajbhawan, Imphal in the presence of BJP's National president Amit Shah, chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, National general secretary Ram Madhav, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor and Assam Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Only two ministers, N Biren Singh and party colleague TH Biswajit, are likely to take oath of office on Wednesday.
Other ministers are expected to be sworn in later.
Meanwhile, N Biren Singh, a former national footballer and elected to the Manipur assembly for consecutive fourth time, said that as Chief Minister, his first priority will be to get the ongoing economic blockade lifted, which was imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) since November 1 last.
"People of Manipur want good governance. We will try to reach each and every corner of the state to provide good governance and all rounds of development.
N Biren Singh hoped that the new government will bring peace in Manipur and improve the law and order situation.
A former minister in the Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress government and a national level footballer turned journalist turned politician in the north eastern Indian state, N Biren Singh was first elected to the Manipur assembly in 2002 from Heingang constituency as the Democratic Revolutionary Peoples Party (DRPP) candidate.
Later he joined Congress and in May 2003 was appointed Minister of State of Vigilance in the Ibobi Singh-led government.
In 2007 assembly poll, N Biren Singh again retained his assembly seat and was appointed as the Minister of Irrigation & Flood Control and Youth Affairs & Sports in the Ibobi Singh-led second term state government.
In 2012, N Biren Singh was elected to the Manipur assembly for consecutive third term.
On Monday, Okram Ibobi Singh had submitted his resignation letter after failing to prove his majority before the Manipur governor.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Image: Himanta Biswa Sarma Twitter
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