New Delhi: Ex-union minister and senior congress lader P Chidambaram joined the chorus of Congress leaders in accusing the BJP of not respecting the people’s mandate and, instead, staking claim to form govt in Goa and Manipur . Chidambaram, who held the finance and home portfolios in the erstwhile UPA govt, accused the BJP of “stealing elections”. “A party that comes second has no right to form the Govt. BJP stealing elections in Goa and Manipur,” he tweeted. BJP finished second in Goa and Manipur, behind Congress which emerged as the single largest party.
In Goa, BJP stitched up a rainbow coalition with parties such as MGP and GFP who wanted Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to return as CM. In Manipur, despite Congress having 28 MLAs, BJP staked claim to form the govt. It met Governor Najma Heptulla and submitted letters of support from NPP’s 4 MLAs and one of LJP, and said it also had another 4 MLAs of NPF. This takes it total to 31 MLAs, past the halfway mark. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh also met the Governor, but could parade only 27 MLAs as 1 of Congress MLAs expressed willingness to join the BJP.
