CM back, 1 CPI, 5 Cong MLAs to be inducted in Council of Ministers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 08: With Chief Minister O Ibobi returning from Delhi today after consulting the formation of the Council of Ministers with AICC leaders, six MLAs, including five from the Congress and one from the CPI are set to be inducted in the Ministry tomorrow.

The CM who has been camping at New Delhi along with MPCC (I) president Gaikhangam and senior Congress leader Phungzathang Tonsing since March 3 to work out the list of the Council of Ministers met Governor Dr SS Sidhu straight after his arrival today.

CM O Ibobi along with MPCC (I) president Gaikhangam and senior Cong leader Phungzathang taking oath as MLAs

Though no official report has come in, it is widely believed that the Chief Minister submitted a list of the Council of Ministers to the Governor.

A reliable source informed The Sangai Express that six MLAs are set to be inducted into the Council of Ministers tomorrow.

The oath taking ceremony will take place at 1 pm.

The six MLAs will include five from the Congress and one from the CPI, said the source adding that the CPI MLA is P Parijat.

Later in the day at 2 pm, the Chief Minister, Gaikhangam and Phungzathang Tonsing were administered the oath of office and secrecy as MLAs by Protem Speaker O Joy in the Committee room of the State Assembly.

The three could not take the oath yesterday, as they were in Delhi to draw up the list of the Council of Ministers.

The other MLA elect who is yet to be sworn is Th Shyamkumar of the MPP, elected from Andro Assembly Constituency.

Shyamkumar is presently lodged at Tihar jail in Delhi after he was arrested from New Delhi airport some time back.

He had contested the election in absentia.

The State Assembly had earlier sent an intimation to the authority of Tihar jail that Shyamkumar's presence was needed here to be sworn in as an MLA.

However till date there has been no official reply from Tihar jail, said sources.

Chief Minister O Ibobi along with MPCC (I) president Gaikhangam and Phungzathang Tonsing have been camping at Delhi since March 3 to draw up the list of Ministers in consultation with AICC leaders.

Soon after arriving at Imphal, Chief Minister Ibobi visited Raj Bhawan alone and met the Governor.

Sources said that the Chief Minister submitted the names of the MLAs who may be included in the Council of Ministers.

Speaking to some reporters soon after being sworn in as an MLA, the Chief Minister said that the Council of Ministers will be announced on an auspicious day soon.

The Chief Minister however stopped short of saying whether CPI and RJD MLAs would be accommodated in the Council of Ministers.

At the moment RJD State unit president W Nipamacha is presently camping at Delhi to pile on the pressure of RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav to ensure a Ministerial berth for the RJD here.

The RJD is a key ally of the Congress in the UPA Govt and Laloo is the Railways Minister.

The RJD has three MLAs in the 60 member State Assembly while the CPI has four.