Cong MLAs unhappy over PDA; Chairman post to IAS officer
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 22 2012:
Discontentment is brewing among ruling party MLAs over the decision of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to appoint an IAS officer to the post of PDA Chairman.
In total contrast to the earlier government's policy of assigning the post of PDA Chairman to MLAs, the Chief Minister has appointed S Sunderlal as Chairman of PDA.
Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao on condition of anonymity, some disgruntled Congress MLAs pointed out that out of the 42 Congress MLAs, 12 have been appointed as Ministers, 1 as Speaker and another as Chairman of Hill Area Committee.
The remaining 28 MLAs are without any post so far.
Even after three months of formation of the government, all the political posts as well as that of the Deputy Speaker have not yet been assigned.
This has created discontentment among the Congress MLAs.
The MLAs further informed that the Chief Minister had earlier assured them of giving post to all the MLAs who did not get Ministerial berths.
Under this initiative, the state Cabinet took the decision of creating the posts of Parliamentary Secretaries.
Consequently, the State Assembly has passed the Bill of Parliamentary Secretaries and the Governor given his assent.
However, so far, the State government has not taken up any steps to implement the Act.
At present, various political posts are lying vacant.
These include the posts of Chief Whip, Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board, Chairman of MANITRON, Deputy Chairman of Manipur Tribal Development Corporation, Chairman of MANIDCO and Deputy Chairman of Manipur State Planning Board, the MLAs added.