N Biren Singh was unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Manipur, paving the way for his becoming the next chief minister. "N Biren has been unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party. He is the party's chief ministerial candidate," Union minister Piyush Goel told reporters.
Biren will meet Governor Najma Heptulla and stake claim to form the next government in the state, said Goel, who was present at the meeting, adding "we have 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.
Here is what you need to know about BJP's CM candidate
A national football player-turned-journalist-turned-politician, 56-year-old Biren Singh is the first BJP candidate to be the chief minister of Manipur. He began his political career in 2002 when he was elected to the eighth Manipur Legislative Assembly from his home constituency, Heingang, as a Democratic Revolutionary Peoples Party candidate. Singh made his debut as a minister in the state in 2003 when was appointed minister of state for vigilance. He was later appointed as Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control and Youth and Sports affairs.
He later became vice-president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee after he led a subtle dissidence against Ibobi five years ago and asked for a leadership change in the state. He joined the BJP on October 17, 2016 and became the co-convener of its election management committee He contested and won from the Heingang seat for the recent assembly elections.
With inputs from agencies
