The BJP government in Manipur was staring at loss of majority in the Assembly on Wednesday with its ally National People's Party withdrawing support and three MLAs of the ruling party allegedly switching to the Congress.

The crisis has hit the Biren Singh government ahead of the June 19 election to a Rajya Sabha seat in which the Congress and the BJP fielded candidates. All four NPP MLAs, who were ministers, resigned from their posts.

Besides, an Independent MLA and the lone Trinamul Congress legislator also withdrew support to the BJP and announced their backing for the Opposition Congress, which is likely to stake claim to form the government on Thursday.

The developments have "reduced" the BJP-led government's strength to 23 in a House of 59.

The NPP has been unhappy ever since deputy chief minister Yumnam Joykumar of the party was stripped of all portfolios. Former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh of the Congress has claimed the support of more than 30 MLAs but sources said the scene would become clear only on Thursday afternoon.

The Congress had won 28 seats in the 2017 Assembly elections, but the BJP rode to power with the support of other parties and defectors. Eight Congress legislators had switched to the BJP since 2017 and one of them was disqualified in March..