New Delhi: In his statement on Saturday, caretaker Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that he has never run for office "as chief minister or otherwise" but rather that he is a member of the BJP, whose central leadership will determine who the next chief minister will be in Manipur.
Ahead of another round of meetings in Delhi, Mr Biren Singh told ANI he has always worked in the interest of the party and will continue to do so.
Following the party's historic victory in the assembly elections earlier this month, where it won 32 seats in the 60-member assembly, he made his remarks while discussions were ongoing within the BJP about the next chief minister.
A BJP-led government will rule the northeastern state for the second consecutive term. The BJP has appointed observers to monitor the meeting of newly elected legislators.
"I never contested elections for Chief Minister or any other post but as a worker of my party. The decision (on Chief Minister's face) will be taken by higher authorities. I've come to Delhi to meet BJP's central leadership. Chief Minister or no chief Minister, I am somebody who has worked in the interest of the party and will continue to do so," he told ANI.
"We are a party which is extremely disciplined and there are rules and norms by which we function. So, we will wait for the party high command to take a call on when the chief minister will take the oath and what will be the contours of his cabinet," Mr Biren Singh added.
According to him, the state government strives to work according to PM Modi's 'Sabka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas' mantra.
"The Prime Minister give us the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas. I am very happy thankful and grateful to the people of Manipur who allowed us to work with this formula," Singh remarked.
Previously, the BJP formed the state's government with the support of the Naga People's Front (NPF) and National People's Party (NPP) with Biren Singh as its chief minister.
The BJP member of the state legislature, T Biswajit Singh, is also being mentioned as a possible candidate for the post of Chief Minister in Manipur.
Earlier, the BJP formed a second consecutive government with its allies in Assam.