Home for Gaikhangam, Law for Debendro, Health for Phungzathang
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 17 2012: A day after expansion of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh led Ministry of SPF-III with induction of three Cabinet Ministers; portfolios were distributed to the three inductees today.

Accordingly, the portfolio of Home which Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had been in charged for the last two terms has been given to Gaikhangam.

Notably, even though the portfolio of Home has been parted and given to Gaikhangam, the Home Minister would not be able to do anything with regard to transfer and posting of police officers from the rank of DGP to DSP as the Chief Minister is still in charge of the Department of Personnel.

Thoudam Debendra, who has been a close and trusted associate of Ibobi for the last two terms, has been given the portfolio of Law and Legislative Affairs, General Administrative Department (GAD) and Revenue while Family Welfare has been entrusted to Phungzathang Tonsing.

According to sources, denial of the portfolio of Forest and Environment of which he was in charged in previous term has made Debendra upset.

Similarly, Phungzathang Tonsing, who was in charge of Power in the earlier term, is not happy with the lone portfolio of Health and Family Welfare given to him.

On the other hand, a government source said that there may be changes or addition in the portfolios distributed among the three newly inducted Cabinet Ministers after other Ministers have been inducted in the Ministry.

Since each of the 12 Ministers in the SPF Ministry would be assigned not less than two to three portfolios, the lone portfolio of Health and Family Welfare being given to Phungzathang Tonsing is only a temporary arrangement.

The source further said that until and unless the remaining eight Ministerial berths are filled up, it would be difficult to say with surety as to who would be in charge of which portfolios.

Some portfolios have been distributed among three inducted Cabinet Ministers out of necessity in view of the first session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly being summoned on March 19 and wrapping up of the financial year by the end of March.

In the meanwhile, the Chief Minister would be taking over the charge of the remaining portfolios.

Gaikhangam had been lobbying for the portfolios of either Finance and Planning or Home.

But in addition to Home, there is the possibility that he may be given the charge of another smaller portfolio.

Gaikhangam has been given the portfolio of Home after several rounds of meeting between Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and other leaders of Congress party at the Centre.

According to a reliable source, there is no likelihood of Ministry expansion before the Assembly session which has been summoned on March 19 .

Another source said that possibility of Ministry expansion before the end of financial year.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is deferring Ministry expansion taking into consideration of the fact that in the event of Ministry expansion hastily, the left out Congress MLAs may create problem in the Assembly proceeding.

So, it is still very difficult to say who would be inducted in the Ministry expansion and who would be left out.

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