As counting proceeds in Manipur for the recently held assembly elections, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has emerged victorious from the Heingang seat.

Early indicators also point towards a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory in the state with the party currently leading. BJP’s serving CM from the state, Singh won the Heingang seat by around 18,000 votes.

Counting of votes began at 8 am in Manipur, polling for which was held in two phases.

Manipur recorded a voter turnout of 78.03 per cent and 76.04 per cent over the two phases held on February 28 and March 5. 92 candidates were in the fray in the 60 seat assembly.

BJP went solo in the seat contesting all 60 seats alone. On the other hand, Congress formed an alliance of six political parties including CPI, CPI (M), Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), and Janata Dal (Secular).

Exit polls had indicated that the BJP would emerge as the single largest party in Manipur, but it is still to achieve the majority of 31 seats.

In 2017, Congress had emerged as the single largest party winning 28 seats with BJP behind with 21. But in similar circumstances as in Goa, BJP went ahead and formed the government in coalition with NPP, NPF, and LJP.