A day after producing an inconclusive verdict, Manipur progressed barely a little towards settling who will govern the north-eastern state. Since the Congress emerged as the single-largest party with 27 legislators, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh staked claim to form government. But with its numbers at least four short of a majority in a 60-member assembly, suspense over the political arithmetic prevailed. That one of its legislators and also another from the Trinamool Congress who was expected to back the party reportedly defected to the BJP in the evening did not help the Congress' cause either.
