Imphal, April 27: After the initial expansion of the Ibobi led Congress ministry in Manipur by induction of three ministers on March 16th last, the final expansion of his ministry is most likely to take place tomorrow. However, Chief Minister O Ibobi has not met the Governor in connection with the expansion of his ministry today. If at all his ministry is to be expanded by tomorrow, Chief Minister O Ibobi has to submit the names of his cabinet ministers to the Governor by 10:30 am tomorrow. If in case his ministry expansion fails to happen by tomorrow, the process for the expansion will take place probably by Monday next or by the first week of May.
According to a highly reliable source, Chief Minister had a serious talk with some of his MLAs regarding the expansion of his ministry. However, there is still no clue on who are the probable MLAs likely to get ministerial berths. But there is high possibility of a woman minister and a minster reserved for the minority in O Ibobi’s ministry, since it is the longing of O Ibobi to include one minority and women minister in his cabinet. If this happens, then it is most likely that MLA AK Meerabai of Patsoi will be inducted as a minister in the women reservation seat and MLA Md Amin Shah will be the minority minister.
The source further revealed that, although it may seem that Home Minister Gaikhangam and Chief Minister O Ibobi to be in good terms, yet there is internal conflict between the two. Gaikhangam has been pressuring the Chief Minister that MLA Govindas Konthoujam from Bishnupur constituency and MLA Victor Keishing from Ukhrul constituency to be inducted as Minister. Chief Minister O Ibobi also seems to be unable to sideline the pressure for reasons best known to him. As such there is high possibility that one of the two might be inducted as minister and Govindas Konthoujam appears to be on the safer side.
The source also adds that if Victor Keishing is not inducted as minister, MLA Francis Ngajokpa, a Naga MLA from Tadubi constituency, who is in close connection with him recently, may perhaps be given a ministerial berth. There will be only two ministers from the hill districts of Manipur, one each from the Naga and Kuki community. The minister from the Kuki community may be allotted to MLA Ngamthang Haokip of Saitu A/C.
There is still no clue as to whether there will be a separate minister for the districts of Imphal East and West. Since the Women quota and the Muslim quota might be equally distributed in Imphal West and East respectively, it is most likely that there will not be any more ministers for these two districts. However, there will be a minister inducted from the Imphal Municipal area. The ministerial berth for this area may probably be given to MLA, I Hemochandra of Singjamei A/C or MLA, L Nandakumar of Uripok A/C or Y Erabot of Wangkhei A/C, added the source.
For Thoubal A/C the minister may be provided to either MLA, K Ranjit of Sugnu A/C or MLA, M Oken of Heirok A/C. The remaining ministerial berth could be assigned to an MLA from Imphal East, West or from the hill district. Chief Minister, however has not even shared his thoughts about the final list of Ministers even with his better half, forget about discussing it with his like minded MLAs.
Meanwhile, since there will be only 12 Ministers including the Chief Minister himself, O Ibobi wisely is going to follow the strategy carried out in Mizoram, to console his remaining MLAs by assigning them with the post of Parliamentary Secretaries. There will be 7 Parliamentary Secretaries. This has been made known to some of the MLAs by the CM himself. The Parliamentary Secretaries will be given the charge of two or more Departments under the Minister and the Chief Minister. The post of the Parliamentary Secretary will be assigned to those MLAs who have not held ministerial posts before, the source further added.
According to a highly reliable source, Chief Minister had a serious talk with some of his MLAs regarding the expansion of his ministry. However, there is still no clue on who are the probable MLAs likely to get ministerial berths. But there is high possibility of a woman minister and a minster reserved for the minority in O Ibobi’s ministry, since it is the longing of O Ibobi to include one minority and women minister in his cabinet. If this happens, then it is most likely that MLA AK Meerabai of Patsoi will be inducted as a minister in the women reservation seat and MLA Md Amin Shah will be the minority minister.
The source further revealed that, although it may seem that Home Minister Gaikhangam and Chief Minister O Ibobi to be in good terms, yet there is internal conflict between the two. Gaikhangam has been pressuring the Chief Minister that MLA Govindas Konthoujam from Bishnupur constituency and MLA Victor Keishing from Ukhrul constituency to be inducted as Minister. Chief Minister O Ibobi also seems to be unable to sideline the pressure for reasons best known to him. As such there is high possibility that one of the two might be inducted as minister and Govindas Konthoujam appears to be on the safer side.
The source also adds that if Victor Keishing is not inducted as minister, MLA Francis Ngajokpa, a Naga MLA from Tadubi constituency, who is in close connection with him recently, may perhaps be given a ministerial berth. There will be only two ministers from the hill districts of Manipur, one each from the Naga and Kuki community. The minister from the Kuki community may be allotted to MLA Ngamthang Haokip of Saitu A/C.
There is still no clue as to whether there will be a separate minister for the districts of Imphal East and West. Since the Women quota and the Muslim quota might be equally distributed in Imphal West and East respectively, it is most likely that there will not be any more ministers for these two districts. However, there will be a minister inducted from the Imphal Municipal area. The ministerial berth for this area may probably be given to MLA, I Hemochandra of Singjamei A/C or MLA, L Nandakumar of Uripok A/C or Y Erabot of Wangkhei A/C, added the source.
For Thoubal A/C the minister may be provided to either MLA, K Ranjit of Sugnu A/C or MLA, M Oken of Heirok A/C. The remaining ministerial berth could be assigned to an MLA from Imphal East, West or from the hill district. Chief Minister, however has not even shared his thoughts about the final list of Ministers even with his better half, forget about discussing it with his like minded MLAs.
Meanwhile, since there will be only 12 Ministers including the Chief Minister himself, O Ibobi wisely is going to follow the strategy carried out in Mizoram, to console his remaining MLAs by assigning them with the post of Parliamentary Secretaries. There will be 7 Parliamentary Secretaries. This has been made known to some of the MLAs by the CM himself. The Parliamentary Secretaries will be given the charge of two or more Departments under the Minister and the Chief Minister. The post of the Parliamentary Secretary will be assigned to those MLAs who have not held ministerial posts before, the source further added.
- Source:Hueiyen News Service
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