Cabinet reshuffle within this month: Biren
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 06 2019:
Chief Minister N Biren has announced that the State Cabinet would be reshuffled definitely within the current month.
Citing growing discontentment and discord among BJP and its coalition partners, the Chief Minister asserted that some Ministers would be removed and some MLAs would be inducted into the Council of Ministers.
Meanwhile, National People's Party (NPP) State unit president Thangminlen Kipgen is scheduled to leave Imphal for Shillong tomorrow to discuss the latest political developments and other party matters with NPP president Conrad K Sangma.
N Biren called on Governor Dr Najma Heptulla at the Raj Bhavan last evening.
Although it could not be ascertained what transpired during the meeting, it is suspected that the Chief Minister and the Governor talked about Cabinet reshuffle.
Notably, the Cabinet meeting held at Ukhrul district headquarters on June 4 was attended by just six Cabinet Ministers including the Chief Minister while six others stayed away from the meeting.
Apart from N Biren, CAF&PD Minister Karam Shyam, Forest and Environment Minister Th Shyamkumar, Tribal Affairs Minister N Kayisii, Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian and Education Minister Th Radheshyam attended the Cabinet meeting.
The six Ministers who stayed away from the Cabinet meeting are Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, Works Minister Th Biswajit, Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayantakumar, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Letpao Haokip, PHED Minister L Dikho and Social Welfare Minister Nemcha Kipgen.
Sources informed that the Chief Minister decided on a Cabinet reshuffle considering the growing discontentment and discord among the coalition partners and incumbent Ministers, and at the same time stabilise his Government.
Although it is not yet clear who would be removed from the Council of Ministers and who would be inducted, it is said that all the four NPP Ministers may be dropped from the Council of Ministers.
On the absence of six Ministers from the Cabinet meeting held at Ukhrul, Biren said "I shall reap what I sow and they shall reap what they sow".
Biren pointed out that 40 per cent of the MPs who held Ministerial portfolios in the previous NDA Government have been dropped from the newly sworn in NDA-II Government even though they have been re-elected.
Claiming that performance, loyalty and discipline are the cornerstones of the BJP-led Governments of the State and the Centre, Biren said that how the Ministers and their respective departments have been performing is being monitored not only by the Chief Minister's office but also at a higher level.
"I believe that the State Cabinet would be reshuffled definitely within the current month based on the performances of incumbent Ministers", Biren said.
However, he did not give any details regarding who would be dropped from the Council of Ministers and who would be inducted.
All Ministers ought to attend Cabinet meetings.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar and PHED Minister L Dikho, citing certain personal problems, informed through telephone/letter that they would not be able to attend the particular Cabinet meeting.
As for the other four Cabinet Ministers, the CMO had no information, he said.
NPF being a partner of NDA, NPF and BJP would remain allies in the State and their demands would be considered, said the Chief Minister while exuding confidence that the partnership between the two parties would be further solidified.
Although the Chief Minister has already announced that there would be a Cabinet reshuffle, none of the political parties which are partners of the BJP-led coalition has received a formal intimation so far, said the sources.
Thangminlen Kipgen and Conrad Sangma will discuss which position NPP would take in case either all the four NPP Ministers or two of them are dropped from N Biren's Council of Ministers, the sources added.
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