Onus on cabinet ministers to keep flock intact
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: April 18, 2022 -

FOR those BJP MLAs, who had high hopes of being shortlisted for a berth in the council of ministers, missing the cut in Saturday's cabinet expansion would undoubtedly view the snub as a huge blow.

Similarly, legislative members of political parties, especially the NDA and NEDA allies, that extended unconditional support to the BJP-led government after declaration of the assembly election results, too would feel utterly disappointed as some of them had repetitively claimed during the campaign trail that he/she would be allocated ministerial portfolios as and when the new government is formed.

The sense of remorse and dejection would be most intense for MLAs of both the BJP and its alliance partners such as JD-U and NPP, who have been elected multiple times but would have to remain contented without any ministerial posts.

In Manipur's context, allocation of ministerial posts is considered as one of the greatest political achievements and recognition granted to testify their loyalty to whoever heads the government.

Thus, induction of the six new ministers in the BJP-led government as chief minister N Biren expanded his cabinet after returning to power last month, would understandably be frustrating for the left-out MLAs from within the saffron party and its post-poll allies.

With the permissible limit of the council of ministers in the state restricted to only 12 in accordance to the total seat in the assembly, there were no other options left for the chief minister but to pick the most trustworthy legislative members for the six remaining ministerial posts.

While it is quite possible that even among the six new ministers there might be voice of disenchantment over allocation of portfolios, the latest inductees would be equally wary that they don't have the luxury to bargain for plump portfolios especially in view of the fact that sizeable number of their MLA colleagues are waiting in the wings.

Similar to the selection of the BJP legislative party leader getting delayed due to multiple contenders for the chief minister's post, it is obvious that BJP and NPF MLAs who couldn't seal ministerial berths would be eager to impress the chief minister through any means possible.

In electoral politics, objective for the candidates is to get the stamp of approval of the ruling parties and then finding a place in the council of ministers after winning the election.

It's also known to all that the political class feels hapless sans ministerial portfolios and as such many of them remain idle with one excuse or the other before springing to life when the next election is round the corner.

For chief minister N Biren and his ministerial colleagues, the priority should be towards keeping MLAs of BJP and NPF intact and taking forward the developmental goals set in the first cabinet meeting.

The ruling party legislators, too, need to acknowledge that the overwhelming public mandate given to the BJP is basically to ensure a stable government that would deliver the promises of good governance and development in the real sense and hope that their loyalty would eventually reap fruit.