Quest for Ministry reshuffle Banner of revolt
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: July 07 , 2014 -

It's not just reshuffle but complete overhaul.

More than 30 MLAs have been lobbying frantically to replace the incumbent Cabinet Ministers and the Speaker leaving out only the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.

By demanding replacement of only the incumbent Ministers, that too within a specific time frame, the MLAs have put the leadership of Chief Minister O Ibobi and for that matter Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam beyond any question.

The rebel MLAs have been demanding induction of a new set of Cabinet Ministers well before the commencement of the Assembly session.

Uptil now the MLAs hate to call themselves rebels, and their manoeuvre a rebellion. It may be little premature to use the terms ‘rebel' and ‘rebellion' but the unfolding scenario is steadily inching towards an internal revolt.

The MLAs, rebels or otherwise, went on record that they would lobby directly with the AICC high-command if it is not the Chief Minister but the high-command who is standing on the way of their political aspirations.

This position of the MLAs reveals that they are ready to go many extra miles to achieve what their eyes have set upon.

The same sentence implies that the MLAs would lobby with the AICC high-command regardless of who stands on their way (the Chief Minister or the AICC high command).

Another implication is, not everything is well within Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee. Is a storm brewing within the party?

If there is a threat to the incumbent Government and its stability, it is from within the party. The Chief Minister's dismissal of the question on possible Ministry reshuffle by terming it an internal matter was too casual even if he did not like to comment on it.

With 42 plus 5 MLAs, the Chief Minister and the MPCC chief did a splendid job of keeping the house united.

Many a great time, Ibobi either thwarted or vanquished many revolts of fellow Congress leaders. Now a tricky situation lies ahead of the Chief Minister and this would be another test of his political shrewdness.

The arguments put forward by the MLAs are; first, Ibobi promised Ministry reshuffle (replacement) when he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Manipur for the third consecutive term, second people of all Assembly segments wish their MLAs to be Ministers, and third, BJP-led NDA is back in power and it would not be any cakewalk for Congress party to fight the next State Assembly election.

These arguments throw up some interesting questions. Should there be Ministry reshuffle just because there are 42 plus 5 MLAs even after assuming Ibobi did promise to this effect?

The argument that all the people wish their MLAs to be Ministers is suggestive of localizing State sponsored development works.

Yes, there are no established criteria for an MLA to be inducted as Minister but what is universally understood is, performance, integrity, capability, political acumen, efficiency etc, etc should be taken into account before inducting any Minister.

This does not mean the incumbent Ministers are more qualified than the MLAs or vice versa.

The argument that all the (Congress) MLAs should be given equal opportunities sounds fair enough at least theoretically but it is simply unthinkable to allot ministerial berths to all the 47 MLAs on rotation or otherwise.

Let's assume, the incumbent 10 Cabinet Ministers and the Speaker are replaced as demanded by the MLAs, then again 35 MLAs would be left out of the newly reshuffled Ministry.

Will the left out MLAs remain silent and if they do, for how long? There is no harm in periodic reshuffling of Ministry but it should not be compelled or driven by the thirst for political power.