BJP's N. Biren Singh takes oath as Manipur CM

Imphal (Manipur) [India], Mar. 15 (ANI): The first BJP-led government in Manipur was sworn-in today as Governor Najma Heptulla administered the oath of office and secrecy to Nongthombam Biren Singh. The Governor yesterday invited Biren Singh, who was unanimously elected the leader of the 21-member BJP legislature party on Monday, to form the government after four members of the Naga People's Front NPF, an NDA ally, met her and declared their support to the BJP. The party has enlisted the support of regional parties the National People's Party (NPP) and NPF, each with four seats, and one legislator each of the Lok Janshakti Party, Trinamool Congress and Congress. The NPP, NPF and LJP are BJP allies at the Centre. Biren Singh, a national-level footballer turned journalist, joined politics in 2002. He was elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly from Democratic Revolutionary People's Party, which later merged with the Congress. In 2003, he was appointed as minister in the state government and retained his assembly seat in both 2007 and 2012 Assembly elections. His relationship with the then Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh fell apart after he was excluded from the Cabinet in 2012. In October 2016, Singh left the Congress and joined BJP. 31 MLAs are needed to form the government in the 60 member-Assembly. Both the BJP and Congress had earlier staked claim to form the government. The Congress, which has 28 MLAs, led the tally. (ANI)