Governor reports State's political unrest to PM
Many unhappy with CM's declaration for Cabinet reshuffle
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 11 2019: While many political analysts have remarked that Chief Minister N Biren's declaration to reshuffle his Cabinet Ministers definitely within the current month was unbecoming of a Chief Minister, many Ministers have resented the same declaration.

Meanwhile, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi at around 3.35 pm today.

Sources informed that the Governor presented a detail report to the Prime Minister on the latest political developments in the State. Some political analysts, on condition of anonymity, asserted that Cabinet reshuffle should be done by the Governor in accordance to the Constitution.

Governor reports State's political unrest to PM

However, the recent declaration of the Chief Minister to reshuffle his Council of Ministers was something very rare and unconventional.

They remarked that the Chief Minister's declaration violated constitutional protocol.

Moreover, it was tantamount to undermining and interfering into the duties and responsibilities of the Governor.

The political experts went on to ask if the Chief Minister has any authority to drop any Minister and swear in new Ministers.

Notably, as many as six Cabinet Ministers stayed away from the Cabinet meeting held at Ukhrul district headquarters on June 4.It was right after this Cabinet meeting that N Biren announced before media that his Council of Ministers would be reshuffled definitely within the current month.

These developments brought to public notice the growing discord within the BJP-led coalition Government.

On the other hand, representatives of a few political parties which are partners of the coalition Government said that the Government has neither any common programme nor any steering committee.

Each of the coalition partners has their own principle, separate flags and symbols, and they fought elections on their own manifestoes.

If any coalition Government must be stable, there must be harmony among the coalition partners.

The leading party or the head of the Government cannot run a coalition Government on their whims, said the political representatives.

Notably, the coalition Government is being supported by 40 MLAs including 21 BJP MLAs, eight defectors from Congress, four NPP MLAs, four NPF MLAs, one LJP MLA, one Trinamool Congress MLA and one Independent MLA.

The eight Congress MLAs who have switched allegiance to BJP are Th Shyamkumar, Y Surchandra, S Bira, Ksh Biren, Ngamthang Haokip, Ginsuanhao, P Brojen and O Lukhoi.

Whereas many non-BJP MLAs feel discriminated, BJP MLAs have been accusing the Chief Minister of giving undue importance to defectors from Congress, according to the sources.