Imphal, May 18: Leaders of the opposition Congress in Manipur called on Governor J. Mukhi on Friday to formally stake claim to form an alternative government in the state.

Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla is on leave while Assam's Governor Mukhi is looking after Manipur these days.

Soon after coming out of Raj Bhavan, Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said: "We demanded an immediate dismissal of the BJP-led coalition in Manipur because Congress, which had secured 28 seats in March 2017 Assembly elections, was not given a chance to form a government despite emerging as the single largest party.

"If we are given a chance to form the government, we can easily prove majority within a few days."

However, Mukhi said he would look into the memorandum submitted by the Congress.

The BJP, which secured 21 seats in last year's elections, was given the first chance to form a government. It had joined hands with some splinter parties.

Declining to comment on the political developments unfolding in Karnataka, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said: "It is a constitutional matter and I would not like to comment on it."

Ibobi said that his party will wait till 4 p.m. on Saturday and then it will take its next course of action.

Several politicians and legal luminaries are of the view that the fate of the coalition government in Manipur hangs precariously on the outcome of the trial of strength in Karnataka.

 

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Belagavi: The state cabinet under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly given its nod to permit cricket matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, subject to certain conditions.

The decision is learnt to have been taken after a meeting held at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday.

Reports indicate that Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara has been directed to formulate rules along with a referendum to hold a cricket match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The cabinet’s approval comes subject to conditions, considering the report of Justice D’Cunha, which was prepared after the stampede.

The June 4 stampede during the celebrations for RCB’s maiden IPL title killed 11 people, which raised serious questions over the stadium's capability to host large-scale events.

Will RCB be playing at their home ground next year?

Stating that the “state had learned from the tragedy,” Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday, December 08, dismissed the talks about shifting Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s home games out of the city.

He also said that the Chinnaswamy Stadium is the “pride of Bengaluru and Karnataka” and vowed that IPL fixtures will continue to be played there.

On Wednesday, Shivakumar met the newly elected KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad at the Circuit House in Belagavi and reiterated that cricket matches, including IPL fixtures, will not be shifted out of Bengaluru.

“We have no intention of stopping matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium, but crowd control measures and the Michael D. Cunha committee’s recommendations will be implemented in phases,” he told reporters.

Shivakumar said the government is committed to promoting cricket and supporting fans while safeguarding the state’s reputation, adding that Prasad had sought the government’s cooperation and agreed to work jointly on the issue.