Imphal | Jagran Politics Desk: Falling in line with exit poll projections, Chief Minister N Biren Singh-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won 15 seats and taken a lead on 14 others in the 60-member legislative assembly in Manipur while the Congress have three seats and leading on one. The BJP had scripted history in Manipur by forming the government for the first time in the northeast state after sealing a post-poll alliance with the National People's Party (NPP) and Naga People's Front (NPF).
This time, however, the saffron party has decided to contest the elections alone with hopes that it might be able to form the government on its own. The saffron party is also buoyed by the exit poll projections, which have predicted the BJP will likely cross the majority mark on its own. It has also hinted that Biren Singh will continue to remain the Chief Minister if the party returns to power.
Assembly elections in Manipur were held in two phases - February 28 and March 5. The counting of votes, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI), will begin from 8 am on March 10. The initial trends, meanwhile, are expected to come out by 9 am.
Here are the LIVE Updates from Manipur Assembly Election Results 2022:
17:24 hours: BJP wins 15 seats and leads on 14, Congress wins 3 and leads on 1, Janata Dal (United) wins 5 and leads on 2.
16:27 hours: Incumbent Chief Minister N Biren Singh of the BJP has won by a margin of over 17,000 votes from the Heingang constituency against Congress rival Pangeijam Saratchandra Singh.
16:03 hours: The BJP has won 12 seats and taken a lead 12 others. Meanwhile, Congress is leading only two seats and won two others, according to the EC.
15:35 hours: This time we've been able to do well in areas where we have not won before. The party has gained majorly in pockets which are considered Congress strongholds. It shows that the people of Manipur have accepted us and the governance we've provided, Manipur BJP president A Sharda Devi.
Apart from targeting 40-plus seats, we had also set out to defeat big opponents of other parties in this election. I believe we have achieved that target as well, she adds.
14:41 hours: We'll take time to stake a claim to form govt, let the results be out. Our national leaders will decide on CM face, we'll focus on PM Modi's mantra of inclusive development, says Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
13:53 hours: In Manipur, the BJP has won one seat and is leading 19 seats, according to EC trends.
12:59 hours: BJP wins 1 and leads on 21, JD(U) wins 1 and leads on 1 as per official EC trends.
12:41 hours: Leitanthem Basanta Singh vs Okram Ibobi Singh: In Thoubal, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh has taken a lead of nearly 2,000 votes against BJP's Leitanthem Basanta Singh.
12:29 hours: N Biren Singh vs PS Singh: In Heingang, CM Biren Singh is leading by more than 18,000 votes against Congress' PS Singh.
11:32 hours: Congress workers protest outside party office in Delhi against EVMs. It is trailing in all five states.
10:46 hours: The ruling BJP is heading for the halfway mark. The party has taken a lead on 15 seats, according to official EC trends.
10:29 hours: Also Read - Manipur Elections 2022: N Biren Singh to continue as CM after exit polls give clear edge to BJP
9:54 hours: According to trends, the BJP is leading on 24 seats while the Congress is ahead on 14 seats.
9:30 hours: I have prayed to God, that the coming five years would be tantamount to the last 5 years with peace and development and that BJP forms government with full majority, says Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
9:16 hours: As per initial trends, there's a tight contest between BJP and Congress. The saffron party and Congress are ruling on 10 seats each.
8:56 hours: According to early trends, the Congress is leading in six seats.
8:49 hours: Chief Minister N Biren Singh offers prayers at Shree Govindajee Temple.
8:16 hours: When questions were raised by some parties, we showed them number displayed on that EVM. It didn't match with EVMs that were sealed and kept in the strong room for counting. They were satisfied after this. No EVM on which votes are cast can be taken out from the strong room, CEC Sushil Chandra says as counting of votes begins.
8:07 hours: The counting of votes is a transparent process. There is a standard operating procedure under which we conduct the counting. Authorised polling agents of the political parties are allowed to come inside the counting centre, CEC Sushil Chandra says as counting of votes begins.
8:02 hours: Counting of votes for Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 begins!
7:53 hours: Also Read - Manipur Exit Poll Results 2022: BJP set to retain key northeast state, predict exit polls
7:40 hours: Visual from Thoubal District Commissioner Office Complex.
7:28 hours: The counting of votes will begin at 8 am today and the early trends are expected to come out by 9 am.
7:07 hours: In Manipur, most of the exit polls have predicted that Chief Minister N Biren Singh-led BJP will retain power in the state for a second straight term.
6:40 hours: Hello and welcome to the LIVE blog of English Jagran! Here you can catch all the LIVE Updates from the counting of votes for the 60-member legislative assembly of Manipur.