N Biren Singh was today elected unanimously as the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party Legislature Party in Manipur and met Governor Najma Heptulla to stake claim to form the next government.

Sources said Biren met the governor at the Raj Bhavan.

“N Biren Singh has been unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party. He is the party's chief ministerial candidate,” Union minister Piyush Goel told reporters.

Goel said they enjoyed the support of smaller parties.

A former minister in the Ibobi Singh-led Congress government, Biren thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership for giving him an opportunity to serve Manipur.

"I thank the prime minister and the entire BJP leadership. I had left the Congress protesting against its misrule and misgovernance.

"I assure you that our team under the leadership of Prime Minister Modiji will provide good governance," he said.

IMAGE: Nongthombam Biren Singh is greeted after he was elected as BJP legislature party leader in Imphal on Monday. Union Power Minister and BJP observer Piyush Goyal and HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar are also seen. Photograph: PTI Photo