Ministry expansion :: Of hopes and despair
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: April 30, 2012 -

Oath-taking ceremony for newly expanded ministers by Governor at Raj Bhavan, Imphal on April 28 2012 :: Pix - Bullu Raj

Finally, the incumbent Congress Government has been expanded to its full strength after days of stalemate or indecision on account of apparent internal wrangling among the Congress MLAs for ministerial berths.

Now, the Government has 12 Ministers including Chief Minister Okram Ibobi himself which is the maximum limit, which means there is no room for further expansion.

As is obvious, Ministry expansion is a mixed tale of despair and fulfilment for the Congress MLAs but the long days of anxious speculations and suspense are finally over.

With the expansion of Congress Ministry to its full strength, one may assume that the internal differences and conflict within the Congress party have been resolved somehow, if not amicably.

Yet, many Congress MLAs have been left dejected. A number MLAs with high hopes of getting ministerial berths have been left out, much to their disappointment.

Talking about district-wise distribution, both Chandel and Ukhrul districts have not been given any seat in the State Cabinet like in the previous SPF Government.

Though Imphal East has been allocated one ministerial berth, the Minister belongs to Jiribam Assembly Constituency which is located about 200 Kms away from the district headquarters.

Incidentally, Jiribam sub-division witnessed a strong and sustained movement demanding full-fledged district status just before the last Assembly elections.

Many MLAs who think themselves as worthy of ministerial berths have been left dejected and fuming because their districts too have been left without any representation to the State Cabinet.

The left-out MLAs have already started forming a dissident group and this was discernable to any keen observer when many of the left-out MLAs abstained themselves from the swearing-in ceremony.

Some sections of the public have also started raising voices of dissent. One can surely guess that some elements are always poised to take advantage of the voices of dissent and the feeling of despair.

But the Government is not there to fulfil wishes and aspirations of the MLAs and their supporters. Any Government is basically meant to look after welfare of the public collectively. For that matter, MLAs were elected to work for the mass, not for their own personal benefits.

It is also true being Minister means exercising certain powers (greater than MLAs) which means he/she can dole out more benefits to their supporters. It is one primary factor for both the MLAs and supporters to go after ministerial berths.

They have a notion that being just MLAs is not worthy. Yet, it is not advisable to raise a hullabaloo without studying time and situation just because some particular MLAs have not been inducted into the State Cabinet.

It is plain arithmetic that out the 42 elected Congress MLAs, 30 should remain as what they are as the size of the State Cabinet is restricted to 12 Ministers.

If the left-out MLAs must raise an uproar, there would be no end to such political turmoil for 30 MLAs would be always left out even if the Government makes repeated re-shuffling.

Rather than creating a chaotic situation for not giving Ministerial berths, it would better serve the interest of the people as well as the State if the MLAs concentrate on their duties and responsibilities as elected representatives.

The general public would not like a protracted battle for ministerial berths. What the people wish for is good governance. As stated by the Chief Minister, all the Ministers and MLAs need to focus on power, potable water, transport infrastructure and law and order situation of the State.

It is advisable for the left-out MLAs to cooperate with the Ministers and work for wholesome advancement of the society. Ministerial berths are not something inheritable.

Many Ministers of the previous Government have been shown the door even though they were re-elected. Even if one is not a Minister, he/she may be offered a ministerial berth in the course of time if they can demonstrate their statesmanship and leadership quality by action.

The Chief Minister had already declared that the newly inducted Ministers may not necessarily remain Ministers throughout the five-year term.

If one is determined to wrest a Ministerial berth at all cost and if they think they contested the election to become Ministers, not for the post of MLA, they may resign from the post of MLA and wait for an opportune moment in future when they would be hopefully both elected and inducted as Cabinet Minister.