Agile BJP outwits Congress in Manipur, Goa

An agile BJP on Sunday outwitted a sluggish Congress by stitching up crucial alliances in Manipur and Goa to stake claim to form government.

The Congress had emerged the single largest party in Manipur winning 28 out of the 60 seats and in Goa by emerging victorious in 17 out of 40 seats.

As Congress went through the processes of discussing probable legislative party leader, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was dispatched by BJP President Amit Shah to Goa to swing the state in their favour.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav moved in quickly to seal alliances in Manipur, where the Congress was hoping for an invitation to form the government on being the single largest party in the state Assembly.

Madhav, aided by Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had quit the Congress to join the BJP two years ago, succeeded in roping in support from regional outfits Naga People’s Front and National People’s Party.

“The BJP is taking undue benefit from the hung assembly scenario and denying the Congress a shot at power on account of being the single largest party. They are giving convention the go-by,” a senior Congress leader told DH.

Caught by surprise, Congress accused the BJP of “abducting” Independent MLA Asabuddin by misusing the Central Industrial Security Force at the Imphal airport in its desperate bid to shore up numbers.

The BJP was the number two party in Manipur as it had won 21 seats, seven less than the Congress. However, it succeeded in roping in National People's Party's four MLAs and the lone legislator of the Lok Janshakti Party. The four-member Naga People's Front had already written to Governor Najma Heptullah of not supporting a Congress government.

“This is a clear murder of democracy. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is very much responsible for the conspiracy,” AICC secretary Shantaram Naik said. Gadkari hit back at the Congress saying those who could not muster the numbers to prove majority were levelling allegations to hide their failures.