Ministers for whole State, not home districts alone : CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 30 2012: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has stated that all the 12 Cabinet Ministers including himself should work for overall de-velopment of Manipur, not for their home districts alone.

Talking exclusively with The Sangai Express in his office chamber today, Ibobi reiterated that people's trust in Congress party was manifested most glaringly when the people elected 42 Congress MLAs to the 60-Member Manipur Legis-lative Assembly.

Stating that 12 MLAs out of the 42 MLAs have been inducted as Cabinet Ministers and given different portfolios, Ibobi asserted that the Ministers were not appointed to work only for their home districts or their own Assembly segments.

The 12 Cabinet Ministers would handle administration of the State collectively and work in unison for welfare of people.

People need not feel sore because Imphal East, Ukhrul and Chandel districts have not been allocated any ministerial berth.

All the Congress MLAs would consult each other in every matter for better administration of the State, Ibobi assured.

In the previous Government, five ministerial berths were held by Congress and CPI MLAs from Imphal East district alone.

Th Debendra (Jiribam AC), N Biren (Heingang AC), Y Erabot (Wangkhei AC), Md Allaudin Khan (Keirao AC) and Ph Parijat (Lamlai AC)wereMinisters in the previous SPF Government.

Though both Ukhrul and Chandel districts are equally important, no ministerial berths could be allocated to these districts.

Yet, it does not mean the present Ministers would hold their posts throughout the five-year term.

Ministerial berths may be allotted to left-out districts on rotational basis.

Informing that the Government made all efforts to include MLAs of all communities in the State Cabi net, the Chief Minister pointed out that the same efforts proved futile as the Stale's Cabinet is restricted to only 12 Ministers.

Many former Ministers have been dropped out this time not because their performances were not satisfactory.

I Hemochandra and M Oken have been elected repeatedly from Singjamei AC and Heirok AC respectively and they have been working as MLAs for a long time.

MLA Ngamthang Hao kip of Saitu AC and MLA Dr Kh Ratankumar of Mayang Imphal AC were also MLAs in the previous Government.

There is no question of treating the districts of Manipur in partial manner.

Inviting all kinds of suggestions and complaints, the Chief Minister appealed to all the people to cooperate with the Government and ensure that peace reigns in Manipur.

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