Biren Singh government to face floor test today

IMPHAL, March 19: Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led coalition will face crucial floor test in Manipur assembly hall here tomorrow. When sought his comment over the upcoming floor test in the assembly, after the swearing in ceremony of all the 60 members of the house here on Sunday, Chief Minister Biren said that they are confident to prove majority.

BJP MP and in charge of Manipur Prahlad Singh Patel, who also attended the day’s swearing, also shared a similar sentiment.

The BJP, which came second with 21 seats (7 less than Congress), claimed the support of the NPP (4), NPF (4), Lok Janshakti Party (1), All India Trinamool Congress (1), Congress (1) and lone Independent MLA — taking its tally to 33 legislators.

Meanwhile the first joint legislators’ party meeting of the coalition partners was held with Chief Minister and BJP legislature leader Biren in the chair at a hotel in Imphal this evening to chalk out the strategy for tomorrow’s session.

The meeting, which was also attended by 31 legislators and BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav besides Assam Finance Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma, appointed BJP MLA Dr. S Ranjan Singh and NPF MLA K Leishiyo as convenor and co-convenor of the joint body.

With the assembly session set to start tomorrow, chief minister Biren’s cabinet approved the Revised Estimates for 2016-17 and Budget Estimates for 2017-18 and the draft Governor’s address to be delivered on the first day of the first session. Cabinet minister Th Biswajit Singh has also been appointed as the spokesperson of the government.

The House of 60 members will also elect its Speaker on Monday. For this, BJP MLA Yumnam Khemchand and Congress MLA Govindas Konthoujam have filed their nomination papers for Speaker’s post.