'BJP doesn't require any alliance in Manipur, will return with majority'

Imphal, Feb 10: Assam Chief Minister and BJP's top strategist for northeastern region Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that the saffron party on its own would form the government in Manipur and it does not require any support from any party.

Sarma, who was on a one-day visit to poll-bound Manipur, when asked about an alliance with the National People's Party (NPP), said that such a coalition is not required as of now.

He said that the BJP is not dependent on any other party this time in Manipur as the party would get a solid and comfortable majority in the two phase assembly elections to be held on February 27 and March 3.

"Alliance with the NPP is a factor in Meghalaya, but as far as Manipur is concerned the BJP would form the government on its own. BJP's primary focus is now on getting a solid majority, rather than looking into the party's future status with the partners," he told the media.

The BJP, which had bagged 21 seats in the 60-member assembly in 2017 and wrested the power for the first time, stitching together a coalition government with the support of four NPP MLAs, four Naga People's Front (NPF) members, the lone Trinamool Congress MLA and an Independent member.

The NPP is the dominant party in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, in which BJP with two MLAs, is also a partner. Sarma, who is also the convener of the BJP-led anti-Congress alliance, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), addressed a meeting of intellectuals in Imphal on the Central Budget.

He highlighted the Prime Minister's key focusing areas for a holistic development of the northeastern region.

The Assam Chief Minister also met his Manipur counterpart N. Biren Singh at the latter's residence and discussed the forthcoming assembly elections and campaign strategies. Sarma, a BJP's star campaigner for the Manipur polls, also addressed a party functionaries' meeting.

Union Minister and BJP's election in-charge for Manipur Bhupender Yadav also addressed the intellectuals' meet.

He said that the BJP is preparing its election manifesto for the imminent Manipur elections and it would not make any promise that would not be fulfilled.

When asked about the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, he said the N. Biren Singh government since 2017 has been ruling the state "successfully" and the party is fighting the elections under his leadership.

The central election committee of the party after the elections would decide who would be the next Chief Minister of Manipur," Yadav told the media.