Congress sweeps back to power in Manipur

Helped by a fragmented opposition, the Congress on Tuesday swept back to power for the third consecutive time in Manipur with a two-thirds majority in the 60-member assembly.

The Congress secured 42 seats, one more than the required 41, for two thirds majority in the troubled state.

The fragmented opposition, which formed a loose coalition recently named Peoples Democratic Alliance, managed to get only 18 seats.

But the Trinamool Congress, a partner of the alliance, sprang a surprise, winning seven out of the 48 seats it contested. It had a sole member in the outgoing House.

The Naga Peoples Front won four, the Nationalist Congress Party and Lok Janshakti Party won a seat each and others won five. The BJP also drew a blank.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh won from Thoubal and his wife O Landhoni Devi from Khangabok.

The Communist Party of India, which was a former coalition partner of the Congress in the erstwhile Secular Democratic Front, failed to win a single seat.

CPI candidate and Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat Singh, who had won from Lamlai four times earlier, was defeated by the Congress' K Biren Singh. The CPI had contested 24 seats.

Senior Congress leader and Forest Minister Th Debendra Singh won from Jiribam.

Social Welfare Minister N Loren won the Nambol seat, defeating former union sports minister Th Chaoba Singh of the Manipur Peoples Party.

Other ministers who won were T Phungzathang, N Biren Singh, T N Haokip and Y Erabot Singh.

Among two Congress ministers who lost were Minority Minister Alauddin Khan from Keirao and Education Minister D D Thaisi in Karong.

NCP president Radhabinode Koijam, Manipur Peoples Party leader O Joy, former union sports minister T Chaoba Singh of Manipur People's Party and Manipur State Congress Party president Y Mani Singh also lost.