Imphal : Manipur’s new Chief Minister N Biren Singh, heading the state’s first BJP-led government, on Monday won the floor test in the assembly by voice vote.
BJP’s Y. Khemchand was earlier elected the Speaker.
The floor test took place 11 days after assembly elections threw up a fractured verdict and five days after the Biren Singh ministry was sworn in.
In the 60-member House, BJP won 21 seats and Congress 28.
But the BJP joined hands with the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and National People’s Party (NPP), which have four legislators each, as well as an independent and a member each from LJP and Trinamool.
Also, Congress MLA T. Shyamkumar defected to become a cabinet minister.
Speaker Khemchand too was elected by voice vote, defeating Govindas Konthujam of the Congress.
Congress leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh conceded defeat but insisted his party should have been called first to form the government as it was the single large group in the House.
BJP sources said the portfolios would be allocated to the ministers soon.
The Manipur Chief Minister is allowed to have 12 ministers. He already has nine.
After winning the crucial trust vote in Manipur, with 32 votes in its favour, Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh marked himself as a lucky person saying that it is not his success alone but all together Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory.
Speaking to ANI here, Nongthombam Biren Singh said, “I thank my team, it is not my success, it is success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the people of Manipur. I really appreciate their attitude shown to us and I promise to reciprocate the same to the people of the state.”
Singh said his government priority is to give proper governance to the state.
“Our priority is to give proper governance to the Manipur state and my focus will be in hills because central leaders have advice me and this is how we can commonly, jointly develop together,” he added.
Manipur Chief Minister also informed that he has formed a committee for the border issue with Myanmar so that reports can be given to the Centre and they can solve the problem by talking to their government.
