Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Monday announced that he will tender his resignation on Tuesday.
"I will resign by tomorrow to facilitate the process of government formation," he told reporters in Imphal.
Few hours before the resignation announcement, Governor Najma Heptulla had directed Singh to resign in order for a new ministry to be formed. But Singh refused to step down from his post, saying he enjoyed majority support in the assembly. The Congress had secured 28 seats in the recent Assembly elections and he said that his party "enjoys support of the four NPP MLAs".
Heptullah is now likely invite the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the government, informed sources said.
Constitutional experts, however, are of the opinion that the single largest party, the Congress, should be given a chance to form the ministry since no party has secured absolute majority.
Meanwhile, as Singh is set to resign on Tuesday, the BJP has picked N Biren to form form government as the new chief minister.
"We are thankful to the people for electing us to power. We shall give a new life to the people of the state," Union Minister and BJP leader Prakash Javadker said. He had rushed to Imphal today.
While the Congress has 28 elected members in the 60-member House, the BJP which secured 21 has increased its tally to 32 as all other parties and the lone independent, including one Congress MLA, have extended support to it.
(With inputs from agencies)